Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 11, 2014
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6-8
Double mindedness comes from doubt. Doubt about being in the right career. Doubt related to investing in the right relationships. Doubt in the Almighty’s ability to handle the circumstances or the people. Chronic doubt is a detriment to faith and hope, because it causes instability and insecurity. Has doubt and double mindedness frozen your faith?
Do you feel torn between two people? Have your divided loyalties at work created conflict and confusion? Does your lack of conviction cause you to react like a whipsaw to the latest advice? Like a ship without a rudder or sail, you are tossed back and forth by the winds of change and conflict. Without confidence from Christ there is confusion.
“I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty” (Galatians 5:10).
Wavering faith is made stable by reassurance from the Lord’s faithfulness. There is nothing distrustful about wisdom from above. You can count on Christ to lead you through the valley of uncertainty, along the upward path of prayer to the mountaintop of trust. Challenges allow you to grow in grace—and live out the advice you give to others.
So, determine by God’s grace to be single-minded, not double-minded. Your single-minded devotion to Jesus is simple, but powerful. Like the tip of a razor sharp spear, it cuts through the noise of competing voices and allows you to hear from heaven. This humble posture of believing prayer unlocks the Lord’s wisdom and discernment.
Whatever Jesus says to be—be, and whatever Jesus says to do—do. Do not complicate your conversation with Christ with contingency plans. Rather, simply trust and obey the truth. Do what He says to do today and trust Him with tomorrow. The Lord will handle the little details and the big outcomes—your part is to remain faithful. Wisdom is what He wants you to follow by faith. Single-mindedness is stable and secure in all its ways.
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9).
Prayer: How can I grow in single-minded faith in the Lord? Who needs my focused attention?
Related Readings: Isaiah 41:29; 50:7; Matthew 6:22-23; 1 Peter 1:13
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Very powerful devotion, praying for single-minded ness.
Dear Sam~
Thank you for your response to the devotional, “Double Minded”. We love to hear from our fellow wisdom hunters when a devotional has blessed them. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
I’m double mindedness in the sense that my mind says one thing and my heart, God, tells me to do the opposite. I’m having trouble sticking to what God wants me to do. I want to go back to church but I feel scared and don’t know why. I feel as though I am torn between my thoughts and actions. So, this article has hit home for me as I continue with my struggle to get it right and believe that God has my best interest and that I need to follow my heart and Him.
Dear Connie~ Thank you so much for reaching out to us regarding the Wisdom Hunter’s devotional, “Double-Minded”. Isn’t it just amazing when we are struggling with something like this, God will put someone or something in our path to remind us He is there and we need to focus on HIM!!! I love that!
Your honesty and sincerity about your struggles going back to church and being “singled-minded” probably “hit a chord” with many of us! But Connie, you summed it up beautifully when you said “God has my best interest and that I need to follow my heart AND HIM”. Sometimes, it is so hard to wrap our human minds around the LOVE that HE has for us. Stay in His Word and on your knees and you will be reassured and then, guided on the Path He wants you on!
Thank you Connie, for taking the time to share your thoughts.
We are so thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s Love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His Love is.” Ephesians 3:17-18