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If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - James 1:2-8 - If Any Of You Lakes Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – James 1:2-8 – If Any Of You Lakes Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:2-8 (NIV)  

Ask Me

Do you lack wisdom? That is a very important question don’t you think? Yes, it is. If you think you have all the wisdom you need, then you won’t ask me for any, isn’t that correct? Yes, that would be true. Well, what do you think, do you have enough wisdom? I know what I have done. What have you done? I have foolishly and pridefully failed to ask you for wisdom when it was obvious that I desperately needed it. Why is that? I have been self-sufficient. I have been strong willed. I have been self-reliant. I have been independent. Most of all, as I have said, I have been proud and foolish. How has that worked out for you? Not well. I have made mistakes, taken many missteps, wasted time and valuable resources all because I failed to ask you for wisdom. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

What will happen to you when you fail to ask for my wisdom? If I continue to fail to ask for your wisdom, I will never know or be able to do your will. I will never be able to accomplish your purposes or fulfill your plans. I will never be able to bear fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name. I will never be able to live a life that is pleasing to you. Why is that? You want me to come to rely on you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to hear your voice. You want me to follow your direction. Yes, I do.

It isn’t that hard. It isn’t that hard to do what? It isn’t that hard to come to ask me for wisdom. I am ready, willing and able to generously give you wisdom. I won’t turn you away. I won’t leave you empty handed. It will be my delight to generously give you all the wisdom you will need to be able to know and do my will. Will you humble yourself so that you will come and ask me for wisdom? Yes, I will. With a heart filled with faith will come and ask me for wisdom? Yes, I will. If you humble yourself and believe that I will hear and answer your prayer for wisdom what can you expect? I can expect that I will generously receive wisdom for you. That’s right. Ask me for wisdom right now. Yes, I will. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, I desperately need wisdom from you. There is no question about that. Forgive me, for pridefully and foolishly failing to ask you for wisdom. With a humble heart, filled with faith I am now asking you to generously give me all the wisdom I need. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Discipleship – James 1-2-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Ask God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Ask God - James 1:5-8 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Ask God – James 1:5-8 – Growing As Disciples

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  James 1:5-8 (NIV)

I Lack Wisdom

Here I am again God, lacking wisdom. There is no “if” to the question of whether I lack wisdom or not. Nothing could be more certain than that I lack wisdom and I need your help. About the dumbest thing that I could do is to think that I have all I need within myself to live this life for you. Fortunately, I’ve made enough mistakes and taken my share of crazy detours to know that I most certainly need your help. So here I am crying out to you for help.

How do you think I will respond to your cry? At one time I thought you might say, “is that you again?” But now I know that’s not true at all. I’m sure that you are glad that I have come to you asking for your help. You’ve got that right. Why do you think I’m glad? Within my asking there are several underlying convictions all of which I think please you. Tell me what they are. First, my asking for wisdom from you is an admission that I don’t have wisdom. Second, my asking you for wisdom is an acknowledgment that you are the source of all wisdom. Finally, my asking you for wisdom is in faith knowing that you love me and will give me wisdom without finding fault in me. You are absolutely right. I am pleased with every one of the convictions underlying your asking me for wisdom.

How do you think that I will answer your request for wisdom? I have a few ideas of how you will. What are they? I believe that you will make me wise as I spend time with you in your word. I believe that when I stop to ask you for wisdom in specific situations, you will show me the right decisions to make. I believe that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct my life as I watch, wait, and listen for His voice prompting me along life’s journey. Is that it? Well, I also believe that you will give me wisdom in ways that I also cannot even conceive of or guess. Yes, you are right, my wisdom will be given to you in ways that you are aware and unaware of. But there is one thing you must be certain of. What’s that? I have heard and will answer your prayer.

Heavenly Father, in the past I have tried to face trials in life with my own wisdom and strength. That has been a big mistake that I’m learning from. Help me to come to you in faith to ask for and receive all the wisdom that I need.   Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – James 1-5-8 – Ask God- 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                               Copying not permitted                                                               http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 67 - James 1:5-8 - If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 67 – James 1:5-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Nothing Could Be More Obvious

I will start by admitting that nothing could be more obvious. Nothing could be more glaringly apparent. Nothing could be more easily recognizable. What are you talking about? What is so obvious and glaring apparent, and easily recognizable? I am not wise. Now, I want to make one additional point crystal clear before I go any further. What point do you want to make? My lack of wisdom is so obvious and glaringly apparent and easily recognizable to everyone else, except to me. That is how unwise I am. Or, I could also say that is how foolish I have been. But I should not stop at acknowledging my lack of wisdom and my foolishness. Why is that? There is something worse and darker and more sinister within in me. If I was only unwise and foolish that would be bad enough. But there is a sadder reason for my lack of wisdom and my large amount of foolishness. What is that? I am filled with pride. There, I have said it. I admit that my foolish pride has prevented me from asking you for wisdom because I have thought of myself as being wise. I have thought that I had no need of any help. I have been self-reliant and self-sufficient. I have been strong willed and independent. That is not good. I know. My lack of wisdom and my large amount of foolishness has caused me a great deal of pain. I cannot tell you how many unwise and foolish decisions I have made. There is no need of that, I already know, and even far better than you know yourself. Of that, I am sure.

What do you want to do now? How do you want to change your course? Well, I think that I am where you want me to be. Where is that? I am freely admitting my lack of wisdom to you. That’s good. I am also ready to take the next step that I know you want me to take. What step is that? I will ask you for the wisdom I need. I believe that you have brought me to this place. You have given me the desire to place all my faith and hope and trust in you. I want to leave my pride and foolishness behind me. I want to rely on you and your wisdom. So here I am, humbly asking you for your wisdom. Guide all my thoughts and words and actions by your wisdom. Guide the entire course of my life by your wisdom. Help me to know and do your will. Help me to live the life that you have called me to live. I will hear and answer your prayer. I will generously give you, my wisdom. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, there is one thing of which I am certain. There is one thing of which I have no doubt. I am not wise. I lack wisdom. Of that there is no question. So, with a heart filled with faith, I will ask you for your wisdom. Guide my life by your wisdom. Amen

Key Question…  How are you now asking for and relying on God’s wisdom to guide the course of your life?

Living It Out…  Admit to God that you are not wise and ask Him to give you wisdom to guide all your thoughts, words, and actions.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will give you all the wisdom you will need to guide the course of your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are asking for and relying on God’s wisdom.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you, with a heart filled with faith, ask God for His wisdom.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 67 – James 1-5-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Lacks Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - James 1:5-8 - Lacks Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – James 1:5-8 – Lacks Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Asking For Wisdom

There is no doubt about it. There is no doubt about what? There is no doubt that I lack wisdom. Nothing can hide that fact. Why is that? I have left a trail of dumb decisions and foolish mistakes. Like what? I have gone where I should not have gone. I have done what I should not have done. I have failed to go where I should have gone. I have failed to do what I should have done. Why have you not asked me for wisdom? There is an easy answer to that question. Let me hear your answer. My own foolish pride has kept me from asking you for wisdom. It is very difficult to ask for wisdom if you are not willing to admit that you need it. I have pridefully and foolishly and stubbornly refused to ask you for wisdom. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

What will you do now? What will you do because you now know that you desperately need wisdom? What will you do because you now know that I will hear and generously answer your prayers for wisdom? I will humbly admit that I need wisdom. With a heart full of faith, I will come to ask you for wisdom. Why is that important? I also know that you will not answer doubt filled prayers. If I pray prayers that are filled with doubt, I should not expect that I will receive anything from you. If I am going to pray a prayer filled with doubt, I might as well not pray at all. Why is that? You will not hear and answer prayers that are filled with doubt. No, I will not.

So, you are going to do three things. You are going to admit your need for wisdom. You are going to pray a faithful filled prayers asking me for wisdom. You are going to wait with faithful expectation that I will hear and generously answer your prayers, is all of this correct? Yes, Lord. That is exactly what I will do. That is exactly how I will pray. That is exactly what I will believe, without a doubt. That is very good. I will hear and generously answer your prayers asking me for wisdom. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have been filled with pride. I have thought I was quite wise. I have foolishly relied on my own limited wisdom. I have made dumb decisions and foolish mistakes. No more. With a heart filled with faith, I am now asking you for all the wisdom I will need in life. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Prayer – James 1-5-8 – Lacks Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - James 1:5-8 - If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – James 1:5-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

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

Humbly Pray Faith Filled Prayers

What wisdom do I need? Why do I need wisdom? Why have I foolishly thought I did not need wisdom? Why have I resisted others when they were more than willing to give me wise counsel? I don’t even like to ask for directions when I’m lost. What explains that? Those are questions I ask myself. Those are good questions. What are your answers? I need wisdom because I am not a wise person. I need wisdom because I don’t know it all. I don’t have all the answers. I’m not even wise enough to ask the right questions. I’m not wise enough to recognize wisdom when it has been freely and generously offered to me. Why is that? We both know the answer to that question. I’m as proud as I am unwise. Do you think there is a correlation between your pride and your lack of wisdom? There is no doubt that. Pride has been behind my thinking that I don’t need any additional wisdom. Pride is the reason I am reluctant to ask for directions even when I’m certain that I am lost. You’re on to a very important thought.

You will need two things if you want to come to ask me for wisdom. What’s that? What two things will I need? You tell me. I’m guessing that I will need humility to be willing to come and ask you for wisdom. Good guess. I will need to lay down my pride and admit that I need your wisdom. I will need to acknowledge that I don’t know it all and have all the answers. That’s right. What else? I’m not sure. Have you ever doubted that I would hear and answer your prayers? Have you ever wondered if I would really give you wisdom, when I ask me for it? I guess so. You guess so? I know that I have prayed prayers that were filled with doubt. I have something to say to you. What’s that? Don’t bother praying doubt filled prayers asking for my wisdom. I know why that is. Tell me. I will not receive any wisdom from you when my prayers are filled with doubt. That’s right. Will you humbly pray faith filled prayers asking me for wisdom? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will generously receive wisdom from me. I will give you all the wisdom you will need to know and do my will. I will give you all the wisdom you will need to live your life with and for me. That’s what I want. That is very good.

Lord, there is no doubt about it, I need your wisdom. On my own, I have taken many missteps. I have made huge mistakes. I have gone down dead ends. I have wasted time. I have lost resources. Please give me the wisdom I need to know and do your will. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

God’s Will – James 1-5-8 – If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com