James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Having our faith tried teaches us to be patient. God's ways are not our ways and he does things in his own time frame. Many times when we ask something of him, we expect an answer right now, but God, knowing our every need will give the answer when it is best for our good. James goes on in this chapter and tells us exactly why we don't always get what we ask for. He tells us that if any wants wisdom to ask God and it shall be given to him. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We all know that everyone is not wise. You might say, I ask but I am still not wise. I asked for good health, but I'm still sick. I ask for friendship, but I'm still alone. There is a good reason why you don't receive what you ask God to give you. You are not patient enough to keep faith in him until he gives it. If he doesn't give you what you ask for immediately, your faith begins to dwindle and fail. James goes on to let us know that when we ask anything, we must ask "in faith" and never doubt that God will answer. James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. If we doubt that God is able, then we will not receive what we ask for. WE MUST BELIEVE. Lack of faith is the reason our prayers are not answered. Lack of faith is why we are not seeing miracles today like they saw when Jesus walked the earth. Lack of faith is why we are sick. James told the people if you can't have faith, then don't expect God to answer you. James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.Mathew also told us how important having faith was. Because the people from Jesus's hometown knew him and didn't have faith in him, they did not receive their healing.
Mathew 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. We must believe that he is. If we can't believe, he won't answer. We hold the key to everything we want. Paul knew this and taught us that if we don't have faith in him, we will never please him.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If we believe and have faith, he rewards us with answered prayers. He is a rewarder of those that seek him.
I encourage you today to seek him. Read his word and build your faith. He is listening and wants to give you all that you ask for.
There is so much more that can be said about believing and seeing our prayers being answered. I did a post awhile back with some other thoughts on this. Click the link to read that post.
Why prayers are not answered
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Having our faith tried teaches us to be patient. God's ways are not our ways and he does things in his own time frame. Many times when we ask something of him, we expect an answer right now, but God, knowing our every need will give the answer when it is best for our good. James goes on in this chapter and tells us exactly why we don't always get what we ask for. He tells us that if any wants wisdom to ask God and it shall be given to him. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We all know that everyone is not wise. You might say, I ask but I am still not wise. I asked for good health, but I'm still sick. I ask for friendship, but I'm still alone. There is a good reason why you don't receive what you ask God to give you. You are not patient enough to keep faith in him until he gives it. If he doesn't give you what you ask for immediately, your faith begins to dwindle and fail. James goes on to let us know that when we ask anything, we must ask "in faith" and never doubt that God will answer. James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. If we doubt that God is able, then we will not receive what we ask for. WE MUST BELIEVE. Lack of faith is the reason our prayers are not answered. Lack of faith is why we are not seeing miracles today like they saw when Jesus walked the earth. Lack of faith is why we are sick. James told the people if you can't have faith, then don't expect God to answer you. James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.Mathew also told us how important having faith was. Because the people from Jesus's hometown knew him and didn't have faith in him, they did not receive their healing.
Mathew 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. We must believe that he is. If we can't believe, he won't answer. We hold the key to everything we want. Paul knew this and taught us that if we don't have faith in him, we will never please him.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If we believe and have faith, he rewards us with answered prayers. He is a rewarder of those that seek him.
I encourage you today to seek him. Read his word and build your faith. He is listening and wants to give you all that you ask for.
There is so much more that can be said about believing and seeing our prayers being answered. I did a post awhile back with some other thoughts on this. Click the link to read that post.
Why prayers are not answered
