I keep wanted to tell myself that belief does not have an impact on outcome, but the more I dig into the Scriptures, the more I see that the opposite is true. Why do I want so badly to dismiss this reality? Is it because I don’t want to admit that I have a role to play? That the Lord is allowing me to enter into His story and be an active participant?
As I battle with myself about this certainty, I am reminded of Jesus’ word that I mentioned a few weeks ago: “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’ (Jn 6:29-29) That can’t be it! Just believe? Come on!
James, Jesus’ brother helps puts some legs on this work that Jesus speaks of: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (Jms 1:6-8)
Our part is to believe, to ask and believe that whatever we ask for in the name of the Lord will come to be. We must believe and not doubt…