5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8 [Forbeing as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. James 1:5-8 (AMPC)
In our faith walk the number one hindrance to watch out for and get rid of is doubt. While to most of us the meaning of doubt is unbelief, James gives us a more practical, easy to understand, and apply meaning.
This defining of doubt can tremendously help us to quickly recognize and get rid of it. One can say that this approach can greatly build and advance our faith life.
The true practical definition of doubt is having two minds. It is being undecided. It is being unable to make up your mind. It is being with divided loyalty.
Now that’s so clear, plain and very easy to deal with. It’s far better to be told that what we have to confront is being undecided or being with a divided loyalty other than unbelief or doubt.
It’s easy to get rid of doubt or having two minds.
How do you sort out having two minds. You get rid of one and you remain with one.
You have to choose one to follow. This is what the prophet Elijah told Israel.
1 Kings 18:21(NKJV) And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD [is] God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
Israel’s sin was always faltering between two opinions or having two minds. It’s the same today. Many are undecided. Everyday almost all the time our struggle is to choose between God’s opinion and another opposing one.
Faith in God comes by hearing and hearing what He is saying. Romans 10:17.
Doubting God comes by hearing and hearing what someone or something else that opposes God says.
When we hear God and at the same time hear another opposite source we become double minded, undecided and therefore unstable and so realize nothing from God. It’s not that God refuses to give, withholds or withdraws anything from us but rather we have not firmly laid hold of what God already gave us.
God says in His Word you’re healed by the stripes of Jesus. See – 1Peter 2:24. You hear it but at the same time how you feel, the symptoms, the pain in your body, and other people say you’re not healed, you’re sick. If you keep on listening to that you won’t experience the reality of healing that God is affirming to you. But when you shut out those other contradicting voices and keep on paying attention only to what God is saying, surely as God is true and says the truth you truly see and experience healing.
The same goes for deliverance, provision, direction, safety, help, and everything else we need and want from God.
We have to shake off the other contrary opinions and hold fast the opinion of God.
We do this by keeping on hearing and saying the same thing that God says about us and the situation we are facing.
Starve the doubt by blocking off and keeping away from negativity. Feast your faith with the Word of God and conversations that are in line with His opinion of you.