Devotional for Sunday, November 19, 2017
“Believe and Do Not Doubt”
by Dona Hake
The words that I want to cause you to ponder today are believe and do not doubt. When we pray, God desires we follow specific steps in receiving. Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Now let us read from the book of James chapter one…
James 1:6-8 (NIV)
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,
because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind. That person
should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Doubt is nothing to take lightly especially if we find ourselves doubting the faithful character of our Lord. What does it mean to doubt? It is when one experiences a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something. God knows our frame well and He knows our needs and desires, and as we pray for them we need to be in total faith and not waver.
James likens a doubter to a wave that is blown and tossed by the wind. You see, when you ask in faith and determine yourself to resist doubt, and you can expect the desired outcome. But what about the waves in the storm that we face in the midst of a trial you may ask? James never said that when you ask in faith that all would be smooth sailing did he? It is more than likely that we will encounter challenges and detours as we determine to stand in faith for something. No matter what we see, feel or experience our hearts must be resolute to believe God’s Word.
Today I encourage you to be single-minded and steadfast in your faith. Determine yourself to grow stronger in your faith in the Living God that you serve. With God’s help you can, and you will stand strong in that place of great expectation from Whom all blessings flow!