Daily Devotional
Do You Ask God for Wisdom?
“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.”
James 1:5-8
July 28, 2024
Ponder This
When giving counsel, your job is not to solve problems. If you do that, people will become dependent on you. Ultimately, your job is to bring them to God—not to answer the why but to point to the who. In difficult times, God will give you this kind of wisdom if you’ll pray and ask. It is a mark of growth when we stop asking why and start remembering who.
One time, Joyce and I were on the beach in Hawaii. And I saw the most magnificent waves. I said, “Joyce, these are the biggest waves I think I’ve ever seen. I’m going to go out and do some body surfing.” So, I went out and waited for my wave. I started paddling to get on the front end, and that wave picked me up, shook me, body-slammed me to the bottom of the beach, and I just lay there. After a little while I was able to get up and when I turned around, there was a sign I’d not seen. It said, “No body surfing allowed; spinal injury may occur.” I walked right past that sign and never saw it or read it. But I learned something that day—you can’t trust a wave. And God won’t trust a Christian who’s like a wave of the sea. No, with a rock-like faith, you ask God for wisdom, and God will give it.
- When was a time you asked God for wisdom? What happened?
- When has doubt been damaging to your faith? How did you respond?
Practice This
Take a matter you are wrestling with to God in prayer, asking for His wisdom.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
