The Blessing Killer

James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

How awesome is it to know that we have a God whose desire is to bless us in so many different ways? We know, from His Word, that He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Sadly, we do not always recognize the blessings because they do not always come packaged the way we want them to, or they do not come in the way that we asked for them. What is even more tragic is when we miss out on a great blessing because of that "blessing killer"...unbelief. God wants to give us as much wisdom as we ask Him for, and even more. Yet, He warns us that if we ask but do not have faith to believe that He will give it, we will receive nothing. He compares us to a wave that has no control over where it will go, but is driven toward whatever direction the blowing wind decides. In other words, when we choose unbelief, our doubts toss us to and fro, and our spiritual walk is like that of a man who is drunk and completely unsteady on his feet. A person who asks for wisdom, but asks doubting is like someone who cannot make up their mind, unstable in everything they do, and cannot be trusted. When we allow unbelief and doubt to infiltrate our prayers for wisdom, it causes us to miss out on the blessing of receiving the wisdom that God provides for us, in Christ, by the leading of the Spirit. This is the wisdom that is crucial for those times when trials come our way, and patience is trying to work her perfect work in us. When the storms of life start to brew and stir, let us choose faith, joy, and allow patience to do her work. Let us stand fast in our faith and not allow the "blessing killer" of unbelief rob us of the blessing of receiving God's wisdom in those moments when we need it most.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).