-2 Sam 12:15-23 esv

And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

BROKENNESS.

As Nathan had said, David lost his child with Bathsheba. At first, the child got seriously sick. David became broken. For seven days, David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. Though the elders sought him to eat, he did not.

How broken was David?

When the child died after seven days, the elders were quite hesitant to tell the king for they fear that he may do himself harm. But, David had heard them. Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house.

After a span of almost two years that David had covered his sin, he confessed and came out broken. He worhiped God after he experienced a painful consequence. He expressed this when he wrote Psa 51:14-17, when he said;

“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

David’s servants did not understand why David ceased to fast when his child was dead. He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”[v.22,23]

David had accepted the will of God. Like him we must fast and worship neither to twist God’s arm nor to change His mind. Contrariwise, we should ask Him to break our will to align to His. In other words, we fast and worship because we seek God and Him alone.

2 Samuel 12:7b-15 esv

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

“I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD.”

In Nathan’s confrontation, Nathan did remind David a litany of abundant blessings he received from God. Nathan said, “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.”

What had caused him to forget all these? Perhaps, he was too familiar to God’s blessing to feel contempt. There was an abuse to God’s goodness undoubtedly. His hardening had made him out of touch to this reality. Thus Paul had asked us today, “do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [Rom 2:4]

The confrontation Nathan did was hard but needed, that is, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”

David’s conscience was hardened so that it must be awakened like pouring a pail water to a person, who is sound asleep. Living a pretentious life for almost two years was too long enough to make him a chronic liar.

Thankfully, David had acknowledged to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” No blameshifting. Neither euphemizing nor whitewashing. Just plain confession. Period.

True confession results to cleansing. Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.As John explained, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9]

David came out clean through God’s forgiveness. But, the consequence of his sins would haunt him through out his life. Nathan said, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

God may restore us in fellowship with Him because he forgives. But, the consequences of our sins may stay.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ESV

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME.

First of all, I would like to greet each one, “A blessed New Year 2021”

It’s a new year. Therefore, it must be different. Thus, we should embrace the reality of change this year, should we not? The past is like water under the bridge, gone forever but some of its footprints are left behind. Most may fade with time but a few will stay. We can’t change what happened in 2020. But, we can change its meaning as we look at hindsight. There are just myriads of lessons if we see it from the perspective of God, that is, from the lenses of Scriptures.

The wounds in 2020 may have healed yet leaving a few noticeable scars. Are we going to cosmeticize these scars? Not necessarily. Battle scars are attractive, aren’t they? A scar at the eyebrow from a scrimmage in basketball shows toughness. A scar on your knee from a bike fall shows your endurance. Or, even a callous hand means persistence and diligence. That is why, the imprisoned Paul pridely said, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” [Gal 6:17]

Today, let’s turn our scars into badges of honor, our trials into triumphs and messes into a messages. Did not Paul declare, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”? [Rom 8:28] Paul added, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” [Phil 1:6] Fof Isaiah had written;

“for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done.

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,”[Isa 46:9b,10]

God, our Potter, is at the helm always. Every time he turns the Potter’s wheel is a step in fulfilling His plan and purpose in and through our lives. Thus, as He start revolve the earth around the sun today, we may confidently say,”But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” [Isa 64:8] Summer may turn to spring and spring to fall. Yet, our God is in control. Indeed, as He did it in 2020, He will make everything beautiful in its time.

James 1:26-27 ESV

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

PURE RELIGION BEFORE GOD.

A person may claim that he is religious. However, if he isn’t able to control his tongue, he proves his religion is nothing. True religion should control the whole being. It should be noted that Jesus has established the strong connection about a person’s heart being revealed by his tongue. “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”, Jesus said. [Matt 15:18] Later in this epistle, James also has pointed out that “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”[Jas 3:2].

Conversely, true religion isn’t marked not by one’s profession but by his practice, not merely by one’s claim but by his conduct. Didn’t Jesus warn us about people having an ‘appearance’ but not real believers? He said, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”[Matt 7:21-23] Indeed, it’s incumbent to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”[2 Cor 13:5]

For having a authentic relationship with God, genuine believers [pure religionist] do show their real faith by their works. Where there is a real substance, a shadow is seen. A dog barks in order not to become a dog but because it’s a dog. Similarly, a believer does good works as the fruit for being a true one.

His works are of twofold, proactively and defensibly. Proactively, he helps the needy, particularly the orphans and the widows in their afflictions. This act of service is an evidence that he loves God truly. John said, “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Defensively, he kept himself unblemished or pure from the contamination of the world. For John said also, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” [1 John 2:15,16]

People may claim that they’re true believers. But, it's their conduct that proves it real or not.

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Are You A Doer of The Word? 

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

ARE YOU A DOER OF THE WORD?

There is a big difference between a hearer and a doer of God’s word. A man may know tons of skills. But unless he put them into action, they’re just nothing. A person may know how to cook rice. But, he will starve until he applies his knowledge. Sadly, many churches have members with a lot of biblical knowledge but still are struggling with life and relationships. The reason is the failure to apply.

The illustration James gave isn’t just humorous but insulting. No man in his sound mind will go to the mirror, look at his face and walk away ignoring the dirt he sees at his face. He who lies to himself is worse than a fool. Simply put, he stressed how ridiculous is it for anyone of us to read God’s word without the purpose of applying the biblical principles.

The doers of the word have made up their mind. He is committed to “look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts.” He has accepted that God’s word is the ‘perfect law of liberty.’ Arbitrarily, he accepts he might have flaws, aware or not, so that he must reflect to the mirror of God’s word. Thus, he will conduct his actions in line or in accordance to its precepts and principles.

It’s no wonder that they are blessed. As Psalm 1:3,4 says;

“but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.”

After the Lord Jesus had shown his humility by washing their dirty feet and explained its significance, he challenged them by saying, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” [John 13:17] The blessed are not those who know His words. They are those who apply them. Let’s not forget that this blessedness is through the instrumentality of the Spirit using His words. As Paul had said, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” [2 Cor 3:18]

Perhaps, you have had a lot of Scriptural knowledge already. You keep on reading His words regularly. But, you feel that your life is stagnating, dry and unfruitful. Knowing the word isn’t equal to spirituality.

God has been prompting us today to apply His words. Let’s have the posture of the heart as Samuel who asked God, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” Let us seek His grace and enablement that we won’t just be hearers of His words but doers from now on.

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 James 1:19-21 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

HAVE A LISTENING EAR.

In a world that give weight to instant gratification today, most of us do struggle how to listen effectively, don’t we? We’re evolving into a culture wherein everything must be fast. Thus, a small delay of services at food and service centers may evoke complains. Consequently, this impatience results mostly to verbal altercations. These outbursts of anger seem inevitable.

Man’s anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. That is, the corruptions of a man’s heart is exposed by his acts of anger. At one time Jesus had accused the angry Pharisees, “ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” [Matt 12:34] And again, He said, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.”[Matt 15:18-20]

Somebody asked, ”Why does man speak so much than listen when God has given us two ears and only one mouth?” Strange. Isn’t it? When a person had an impaired listening attitude, he has had a diseased heart. It’s not surprising that an angry heart will speak out with outburst of emotions as a brewing volcano spewing lava and hot ashes.

That is why Jesus came offering Himself as our life. [John 14:6, John 10:10] He came not to aid in the reformation of our behavior but to radically transform our hearts. Christians have Christ living and controlling their hearts. As Paul had testified,” I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”[Gal 2:20] Is your life in Christ and Christ in you by faith? They are those believers who “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” [v.21]

Then and only then, that what he commanded to us in Phil 2:3-4 makes sense. That is, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” An unselfish heart could only provide a listening ear. How can a person listen to others if he does all the talking?

Having a listening ear and zippering our mouth do not just keep us out of trouble. It can make us effective servants to others. We show our love not in spectacular deeds but in the simple acts of providing our undivided attention to listen to people. This display more Christlikeness than perhaps we realize. It’s true that those who are pushing their own agenda who are considered great in this world. But, in Gods kingdom, they are those who ‘esteem others as better than themselves” so that they will listen and serve them.

Listening is more than an art. It’s an attitude of the changed heart.

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James 1:16-18 ESV

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

THE FATHER OF LIGHTS.

While Satan’s ploy is to entice us to sin, the Father of lights illumines us to the truth. As the epitome of goodness, our Father is the giver [source] of all good and perfect gifts. Would you and I consider that trials are gifts from God? As Job had recognized, by saying, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? [Job 2:10] Everything is ordained by God. As Solomon said, "The dice are thrown in the lap, and every decision is from the Lord" (Prov 16:33)

Simply put, whatever the Lord gives is coming from above. It is therefore ‘perfect’ as a reflection to God’s character. God’s goodness isn’t vascillating. As the source of light, there is no variation or shadow in Him due to change. In other words, God’s eternally and immutably good. God says, “ For I the Lord do not change.” [Mal 3:6]

“God being the infinite Father of lights, he hath no eclipses or decreases, no shadows or mixtures of darkness, but always shines with a settled and constant brightness, always is, and was, and to all eternity will be, immutably the same, and never undergo the least change, either of his essence and being, or of his properties and perfections” [Burkitt, William. "Commentary on James". Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament.”

Should we are pressed with difficulties today, the devil will use it to deceive us to doubt to God’s goodness. We might be tempted to ask, “If God is good, how come He allows me to be unjustly treated? Why did He allow my loved ones to suffer? etc.”

In the midst of darkness, may His light will always beacon in our hearts. Let’s not be ignorant of the devil’s devices. As Paul had declared, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”[2 Cor 4:3-6]

Don’t doubt what God has said in the light when you are in your darkness. As God is unchangeable, so are His promises. This is the truth that frees us from Satan’s wiles and deceptions.

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James 1:2-15 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

LET US REMAIN STEADFAST.

A trial and a temptation can be both the same thing but is seen at two opposite perspectives. Seen from God’s side, a difficulty is a trial allowed by God Himself in order for us to grow in our faith. For this, Peter has said, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”[1 Pet 1:6,7]. The crown of life awaits for those who love Him proving it by enduring trials by faith.

Conversely, from Satan’s side, he uses it to provoke us to sin against God. A holy God doesn’t tempt us to sin because it contradicts His nature, does He? The devil knew that we have a ‘depraved desire’ that marks our weakness. Even Paul had recognized this tension, by saying, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” [Rom 7:14-18]

The desire of our hearts is as the magnetic pointer in a compass. But, the problem is that it is corrupted by sin. [Jer 17:9,10] Thus, let’s keep our hearts in check with all diligence. [Prov 4:23] Thankfully, God has given us new heart with new desires. [2 Cor 5:17] Should we are in the midst of trials. our hearts might be tempted to doubt God’s goodness and love. Satan wants us lured to embrace the ‘now yet temporary’ pleasures. Like Moses, we must see the riches in Christ’s reproaches than the fleeting pleasuressin Egypt. [Heb 11:35] But, if you “delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” [Psa 37:4]. That is, our desire will be aligned to His so that we continue to ‘count’ trials with joy.

Today, let us let the Holy Spirit check our hearts as we face our challenges. Satan may have engineered our difficulties that stir our inner desires. Let’s not forgrt however, that God has allowed it for our faith to become strong. For us who love God, everything works for the good of becoming more like Christ. Let’s not give in but be firm in our resolve. By God’s grace, we would be able to endure and obtain the promise. [Heb 10:36].

Winners don’t quit. And, quitters don’t win.

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James 1:9-11 ESV

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

LIFE IS AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS.

An old man dying at his sickbed was asked what was his favorite statement in the bible. “And it came to pass”, he blurted without hesistation. Stunned, those around him asked him why. “I am glad every pain and hardships in this life are just temporary,” he answered smiling.

As a believer, aren’t you glad that your life here on earth is temporary?

As James said, the lowly brother and the rich could both glory in their exaltation and humiliation, respectively. At both status in life, both has something appropriate to glory about. Like Lazarus, the poor but rich in faith is an heir of God. [Rom 8:16,17]. Thus, he has a blessed hope in heaven.

Whereas, the rich man, who refused to trust in uncertain riches, could humble himself and recognizes God’s ownership to what he owns. Like Job, he may glorify God to say ‘what the Lord gives, the Lord may also take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ [Job 1:21]

It was Solomon who wisely prayed;

“give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me,

lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and steal

and profane the name of my God.” [Prov 30:8a,9]

Therefore, what matters in our lives isn’t our economic status but relationship with God status. God has allowed both the rich and poor people to exist in this world. The ugly and beautiful flower that grow in this same ground have one thing in common. Both will wither through the scorching sun. Similarly, the poor and the rich will face decay and death someday. The rich may be able to prolong his life a little bit. But, he couldn’t prevent his demise, could he?

This world is doomed as the Titanic, isn’t it? While everyone else is busying his life with his own affairs, the inevitable will happen to everyone. Some could gather more toys than others. But at the ultimate end, everyone will end up with nothing.

Thus, at whatever circumstance we are in, let’s glory in our relationship with Jesus alone. Since we are just temporal here, it makes sense that our joy and satisfaction shouldn’t be on earthly things. Like Paul, we may say, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” [Phil 1:21] Paul added by saying, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” [Phil 3:8]

As the ground where the cross stood was a level ground, so is everyone, whether rich or poor, can glory in knowing Christ alone.

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James 1:5-7 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS.

Trials will always challenge our focus. Because of the pain, we’re tempted to focus on the immediate rather than on the end result. Thus, to vacillate isn’t a remote possibility as we moved with time in the process. Sadly, we see a number of Christians become a castaway at the ‘narrow and difficult road’ towards life. Their lingering question is “How long..?” instead of “what lessons could I get through this..?”

It’s incumbent, therefore, that we should have the wisdom of God, isn’t it? God has promised to reveal His wisdom unto us generously without reproach. That is, God isn’t somebody selfish to let us know His mind clearly without ambiguity.

However, He sets one condition – faith without doubting. Faith with doubting is double-mindedness. He is the one wanting to walk ahead but keeps turning his head behind. Like a driftwood, he is governed by the waves around. This instability is the reason why he can’t receive anything [i.e. wisdom] from God.

Our single-mindedness is both a cause and effect of our faith in prayer. Faith in God will cause us to believe that God is doing right even though our surroundings are topsy-turvy. And as God gives us His mind[wisdom], we are motivated to continue to trust Him even when our nights are becoming much darker.

In our prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, the future seemed becoming much bleaker and deplorable. Let’s be singleminded. Let’s focus at the edge of the dark gray clouds until we see the silver lining. God knows what He is doing. Our mental processes must be governed by His words and promises, not on what we perceived by our five senses. As Paul had said, “we walk by faith, not by sight” [2 Cor 5:7] It was by faith that Abraham walked until he reached the promised and, wasn’t it? We “need of endurance, so that when we have done the will of God we may receive what is promised.”[Heb 10:36]

Our journey with God is either we pass through or evade trials. But mostly, we are immersed into and pass through it. However, as Isaiah wrote we could rest in His divine control and wisdom. He said;

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” [Isa 43:1-3]

Having the wisdom of God makes us stable despite the trials.

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