Next on the list is “doubt.” If I am to be completely honest, I would have to say that the fewer of my prayers that are answered, the more I doubt. Or at least I question in my mind whether something I have prayed about will be answered.
To be clear, yes, God answers many of my daily prayers, i.e. protection from accidents, exceptionally good health (especially for old folks like us
), good harvest from the garden to supply healthy food, and ordinary things like that. But when I say I question in my own mind if a prayer will be answered, I’m meaning something like healing for someone, either physical or spiritual, or some other need, like someone who needs a job.
James 1:5-8 (CJB)
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in trust, doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind.
7 Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.
After praying, meditating and contemplating, the conclusion of the matter of doubt is that doubt will decrease, for me anyway, as I see more “yes” answers to my prayers. And that will come about only as I learn my faults through objective self-examination, and then correct them. As my Norwegian grandparents used to say, “Uff da!” This isn’t going to be easy!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (CJB) “Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvoth [commandments]; this is what being human is all about.
Or as the KJV says it: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
To be clear, yes, God answers many of my daily prayers, i.e. protection from accidents, exceptionally good health (especially for old folks like us
James 1:5-8 (CJB)
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in trust, doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind.
7 Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.
After praying, meditating and contemplating, the conclusion of the matter of doubt is that doubt will decrease, for me anyway, as I see more “yes” answers to my prayers. And that will come about only as I learn my faults through objective self-examination, and then correct them. As my Norwegian grandparents used to say, “Uff da!” This isn’t going to be easy!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (CJB) “Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvoth [commandments]; this is what being human is all about.
Or as the KJV says it: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.