But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
— James 1:6,7

It is no secret that the devil will try to knock you back from your stance of faith when you are facing a difficult challenge. However, in this pivotal moment when he is pushing his hardest, you must be aware that you stand at a crossroads. You have a crucial choice to make: You can give up, or you can stand your ground and boldly declare, “I refuse to be moved off my position of faith! The Word of God is true, and I’m not going to back off!”

If you’ve had trouble standing firm in your faith against the pressure of the enemy in the past, don’t feel condemned. Just receive this message as an encouragement from the Lord to get back on your feet and then go for it again! To experience a breakthrough regarding a difficult situation or a trap that you’ve struggled with for too long, you must take a bold stance of faith and then stand still.

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Yes, it may take time for your answer to manifest. Just because your request is in accordance with God’s will, the answer doesn’t always come to pass quickly or without a hitch. There’s a devil out there that doesn’t want you to experience God’s will for your life. You also have your own flesh to deal with, and flesh loves comfort — it does not like a challenge. Your faith may need to grow. God wants you to come to a higher level in the process of receiving the answer to your prayer.

Faith knows what it wants. It doesn’t vacillate. It never moves. Faith stands still in one spot. So make your bold confession of faith: “God, this is what I want. This is Your will for my life, and I’m not moving until I receive the fulfillment of it!”

In James 1:6, James described the unwavering attitude a believer must have when he asks God for something in faith. It says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

First of all, James told us that we must “ask.” The word “ask” is the Greek word aiteo, which means to be firm or adamant in requesting assistance to meet tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, and so forth. The petitioner is so sure that his request is correct that he asks boldly and with an expectation to receive what he is firmly requesting. This depicts a person who speaks up, speaks out, and prays boldly and authoritatively.

Second, James said that we must ask “in faith.” The Greek lays emphasis on the word “in” — as something that the person is locked into or as something that is immovable. In other words, this person is praying for a stable, immovable, decided position. He knows what he wants and isn’t going to budge. Faith knows what it wants, and faith stands still. Faith doesn’t waver.

Third, the verse says that we must ask in faith and not “doubt.” The word “doubt” in Greek is diakrinomai, which means to differ or to be at variance with one’s self. In other words, your mouth may be saying all the right words, but your heart is not really in agreement. It’s just a mouthful of correct, empty words. Until your heart and mouth get into agreement, you are not really asking in faith, so James told us that we must ask with hearts that are in agreement with our mouths.

Fourth, James said that if we are not asking in faith — that is, if we are not standing firm in our position of faith — we are like unto a “wave” of the sea. The word “wave” is the Greek word kludunai, and it describes the billowing sea, or one roll of waves after another, or the ever-changing sea. Waves may look impressive, but they don’t last long. And likewise, a person who doesn’t stand firm in faith may temporarily look or sound impressive when he prays, but like a wave of the sea, his prayers and desires are ever-changing; and therefore he is not standing firm in a position where he can be blessed. Faith stands still.

In verse 7, James continued to say, “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” It’s not that God doesn’t want to bless this man; He cant bless this man, because the man doesn’t stay in a position of faith long enough to receive an answer to his prayers. Like the waves of the sea, he is shifting all the time from one request to another about the same issue — and then when a little pressure is applied and he doubts, he shifts again.

Consider your own walk with God. Perhaps this is one reason a prayer request of yours hasn’t been answered. Maybe you’ve never locked in with your faith on that particular need. Regarding what you’ve asked God for, do you change your mind or waver in doubt every few days — or even every year? Sometimes it does take years for certain answers for prayer to manifest. That’s why it’s so important to focus and lock in with your faith. You have to say, “This is it!” and stand still.

I suggest you say out loud: Faith stands still.” Say it again and again until that truth gets planted firmly in your heart. If you’re moving around and wavering in your faith all the time, you make it difficult for God to bless you. But when you determine, “I’m believing God for this answer to come to pass, and I’m not moving in my stance of faith about it!” — then you position yourself as someone God can bless.

So decide today what you want and need based on what God promises in His Word. Then pray a prayer of faith, and determine that you’re not going to move until you see that answer come into manifestation. Regardless of how long it takes or how difficult the process is, you are not moving again — because faith stands still !

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


F
ather, I repent for the times I have made a declaration of sincere faith, but then allowed myself to waver because of something I saw or felt. I acknowledge that such vacillating is to be double-minded, and the double-minded person will not receive anything from the Lord. I acknowledge that without faith it impossible to please You. And I choose to please You, Father! Therefore, because I believe that You reward those who diligently seek You, I purpose in my heart to remain fixed and stable in my position of faith until Your reward is fully manifested in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that this is IT — today I focus, and I boldly REFUSE to move from my stance in faith! I let patience have its perfect work, and I do not vacillate! I am not tossed like a wave to and fro, but I stand firm in one spot — fixed, immovable, and determined. I am confident that I will see what I have believed because my faith is based upon God’s Word, and His Word is His will. Therefore, this day I confess that the will of God shall be manifested in my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Is it possible that your prayers haven’t been answered because you’ve changed your prayer request so many times? Be honest with yourself. If faith stands still until it receives what it has requested, has your behavior met the description of how faith behaves?
  2. What scriptures are you standing on for the things you are requesting from God? I advise you to write down the scripture references that back up what you are requesting from God. When the devil tempts you to back off or to think that God won’t answer, this will give you a foundation to stand on and repel his attacks.
  3. Have you ever known anyone who habitually changes his or her prayer requests, as James says, like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed? What would you advise that person after reading today’s Sparkling Gem?