September 10
The Necessity of
Faith in Prayer
James 1:6-7
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.
Daily Steps
Having learned to approach God in simplicity and align our will with His (Day 250), the new believer must now anchor their prayer life in faith. This verse issues a severe warning against the instability of doubt, making belief the indispensable condition for effective prayer: when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.
The peace in this principle is found in unwavering assurance:
The Command to Believe: The instruction is a direct command: you must believe and not doubt. This goes beyond merely hoping; it requires unfailing assurance (Day 222) in the character and promises of God. This active faith is the foundation upon which all answered prayer rests.
The Danger of Doubt: The person who doubts is given a sharp, clear analogy: they are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Doubt creates spiritual instability, making the believer reactive, inconsistent, and unable to sustain peace (Day 223). This wavering state disqualifies the person from receiving answers.
The Result is Expectation: The final point links a lack of faith to a lack of results: That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Effective prayer is rooted in expectation—the confident certainty that God will respond perfectly, according to His nature. Faith provides the necessary stability (Day 240) to wait patiently for His answer.
Your peace is secured by unwavering faith. Embrace the Discipline of Prayer today by casting out doubt and choosing to believe, knowing that only this unwavering assurance secures your access to God's answers and blessings.
Reflective Question
In what specific request are you currently wavering, feeling blown and tossed by the wind of doubt? What is one specific promise of God (from the Bible) that you can cling to today to anchor your faith and choose unwavering assurance?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my doubt and instability. I thank You for the clear command to believe. I pray for the faith to ask without doubting, knowing that You are the firm rock and not the shifting sea. Secure my peace today, strengthening my unwavering assurance so that I may expect to receive Your perfect answer. Amen.
