James 1:5- Ask Him to guide you

This morning I’m going rogue. I read the Psalm that was next up, Psalm 87, and, as much as firmly believe every word of the Bible is in there for a reason, I had a hard time rallying around one particular verse in there to SOAP today.

Instead, I started thinking about James 1:5, which I came across last night while reading “Make it Happen” by Lara Casey.  She uses The Message version in the book, so I’ll share that one here, too:

 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.

This morning I went on to read a few more verses, and loved what I heard there, too:

James 1:5-8The Message (MSG)

^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.

I’ve been reading a lot about prayer lately. This passage is one that we all could keep in mind. But let’s go back to that first verse.

Scripture: James 1:5

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.

Observation:

He will guide us when we don’t know what to do. He wants to guide us.

Application:

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of questions and could sure use some solid advice from time to time. Here is the the invitation to get that solid advice. ASK! He wants to help!

I need to set more time aside for asking and listening.

Prayer:

Lord, You have been amazing at guiding me. I am truly thankful for the path you have set before me. I am feeling a bit jumbled at the moment, though. There are so many things I feel I need to do, but you know which ones are really critical. Please, Lord, guide me in following and accomplishing what you know is right. To get to that, Lord, please guide me as I plan my days so that I am sure to plan time for us to talk. For me to ask, listen and hear. I need your counsel. Don’t let me rush by and miss it.