06/06/2026
Thought for the week ending 5th June 2026
Bible Reading: James 1:5-8
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in anything they do.
The bible is an amazing book. It can provide many things and among everything it can provide from within its pages, it can provide comfort, but it can also create discomfort, and I believe this reading from the book of James might make us all feel a bit of discomfort. If we read our bibles or hear the word read on a Sunday and are never moved or affected or made to feel something, then it is not the words in the bible that are at fault. It means we are not listening to them or hearing them properly and/or our hearts are not letting the word in. In this situation, we are required to ‘let go’ of our own understanding or the stuff that is going on in our own lives that is getting in the way and trust God 100%. Then and only then we will have a chance of letting the word into our hearts and minds.
This passage makes me think of the times we have turned to God…….just in case. It’s when we treat God a bit like an insurance policy – ‘I never miss a watchnight service just to keep me right’ or ‘I’ve been to church on Sunday; that’s me done my bit’.
If we ask for help or guidance from God without really believing that God will hear our request, then we read today that it would be a waste of our time. We need to do our utmost to put all worldly thoughts and possibilities aside and come to God with sincerity in belief and with a genuine cry to him for help or guidance.
Today’s message is a little bit like asking someone trustworthy for directions. If we listen and follow them, we get to our destination. If we don’t, who knows where we might end up?
To seek wisdom from God with faith means to approach him confidently, believing that He is able and willing to provide us with the wisdom we seek. It requires trusting in God’s character, knowing that he is a loving and generous God who desires to give good gifts to his children. Faith involves surrendering our own understanding and relying on his infinite wisdom to guide us in the right direction.
When we come to God with faith, we are acknowledging our dependence on him and recognising that he is the ultimate source of wisdom. This kind of faith is not wavering or uncertain, but steadfast and unwavering in the belief that God will answer our prayers and give us the wisdom we need. It involves a deep sense of trust in God’s ability to provide for us and lead us on the right path. We open ourselves up to receive divine guidance and insight that surpasses human understanding by seeking wisdom from God with faith.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us learn the lessons that you would teach us in this life, especially during those times of trial and sadness and suffering, and give us the wisdom we need so that we do not waste the opportunities you set before us. Make us aware that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. May we always approach your throne of grace in faith and without doubting. We praise and thank you for everything you do in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen (with thanks to knowing-jesus.com)