Welcome to day 3 of 30! I pray that you feel the strength of your sisters and know that you are not alone today on your fast. There is power in unity. Press in today with that staying power we focused on yesterday.
James 1:5-8 “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”
This. Right. Here. How often do we not know what we are doing, but instead of asking God for help we flail around, until we have no other options but to ask. Do you know that it is an act of reverence to ask questions? It’s possible that somewhere along the way we had drummed into our soul “don’t ask that question,” or maybe at one time made to feel stupid for asking questions, or did we reach adulthood and suddenly think we know it all? If you were taught not to ask questions, then let me encourage you today to ask away. Questions are as sacred as answers. We weaken, not strengthen our faith when we silence our questions. Faith is not a whimsical substance that rests on unquestioning souls. As a matter of fact, Biblical Faith is muscular, thickened more through our trials than through ease. As James states here, ask the Father, He LOVES to help. You are LOVED. Loved, when you know what you’re doing and everything is peachy. Loved when you are clueless and asking questions in dark times. We are LOVED.
Consecration: Suffering in silence
We have a slogan at The Kingdom Center, “there’s no shame in the struggle.” There is nothing that hurts my heart worse as a mother, wife, sister, friend, Pastor, then for those I love to suffer in silence. It literally breaks my heart. Especially when it’s a struggle, question, or situation that I know I could help with or have the answer to. If I feel like that (I’m sure you have as well), then how do we think that makes God feel? God is not diminished by our questions. He is not intimidated by doubt either. If we view faith and doubt as antonyms then we will make a habit of suffering in silence. Let me help you, you win NO TROPHIES for it. But what James tells us we do receive as an award is worry, and then we worry our prayer like wind-whipped waves. Today, ask away. Ask someone for help doing a task you could use assistance with. Ask even the simplest questions as they come to you. If you are struggling, reach out to a friend or loved one and ask for help. And above all else, ask the Father and remember He LOVES to help.
Declaration
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