The single mind

Imagine with me standing on a tall tower and overlooking a corn maze. You can see the entire maze, all the people in the maze and direct them. However, it is their choice whether they wish to listen to your direction. You see all the ways in and out, the best ways to get through the maze, and have the shortcuts. You have binoculars to guide them, have flashlights, have all sorts of fun stuff to give them aid. Some call up and ask for help. They thank you and receive help. They get through the maze without too much difficulty. Granted, they still are having to do the work themselves, but they know you are up there helping them. Some ask for help and then decide not to listen. They decide their way is better and get lost. Then there is the last group. They just ignore you altogether. You call and ask if they would like you to help. They don’t even look up. You watch as they struggle and get lost. Yet, if they will not seek the help, you cannot force yourself upon them.

James 1

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].

We don’t often think and honestly, God doesn’t ask us to, from His perspective. I know the feeling of creating something for people I care for and having it be discarded whether purposefully or not. I am so often in my head. So often wondering about how things will affect me. I don’t often consider His view. Looking over the corn maze, which started this whole post today got me thinking about these verses.

Webster’s Dictionary defines double-minded as: adjective Having different minds at different times; unsettled; wavering; unstable; undetermined.

This began me thinking. What are the qualities that the Lord doesn’t want here?

• Doubting: billowing surge of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  I need pictures in my mind. So, enjoy this short video to give you a picture.

Did you notice there is no rhyme or rhythm to the waves? They are strong and powerful, but they lack direction and control. Now here’s the deal, friend. There’s a different approach. Did you notice it? Did you see it? The opposite of double-minded, of course, is single-minded.

single-minded having only one purpose, goal, or interest : focused on one thing.

So what, in this passage, does James want us to do when we lack wisdom? List it.

• Ask God. Why will this work? Why is this our fail proof plan? James has your answer. He gives generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Ask in faith.
• Have no doubt.
• If you doubt, expect nothing from the Lord (and here is where we come into the dialogue about the double-minded man.)

This single-minded focus means that we center in on trusting God. Asking in faith and releasing our anxiety and doubt to Him. Can I just tell you how easy that is type but how hard it is to follow through? MERCY.

I love Romans 12:¹² rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer…

Really. Short. However, bear with me.

• Rejoice in hope. If you had read the first part of James, he had just spent a bunch of time telling his readers to consider it pure joy to face trials. Rejoice. Have hope. This is not the end. We have access to Him through faith.
• Persevering in tribulation. We have need of trusting God in patient endurance. Persevering, enduring, trusting are big ways of saying grab hold of His hand and stay put in His grace.
• Devote self to prayer. Not to anxious thoughts or wayward double-mindedness, but to prayerful focus on Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[d]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So, in conclusion, love Him. I want to be one of those people who are looking up to the tower to ask and actually taking the help! I want to keep Him at His word and follow Him, because this is precious to me.

John 14:²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

We are loved first by God, so keep His word. Treasure His message in its entirety. Christ will dwell in your heart. Enduring through the trials of our life knowing that the testing our faith produces endurance. (James 1) It all starts with trials. Not with the happy, good, lovely stuff. God molds us in the testing. Only follow Him through it all. Walk in His ways. Ask, seek, knock and the kingdom of Heaven is yours.

Peace.