Omnipotent God

With or Without Faith?

James 1:5-7 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  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.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;”

This scripture is frequently quoted by those exhorting us to pray, often omitting that first phrase (if any of you lacks wisdom). The purpose is to exhort us to pray expectantly – expecting God to answer. Even more frequently, folk pray “expecting God to show up and do something wonderful”.

Is that you by any chance? That scripture defines your faith – “blown and tossed by the wind” etc. I sometimes wonder just who do we think God is? God is not one who “shows up”. God is not one who might or might not turn up at your meetings, or who might or might not answer your prayers. God, at least the one I know, is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.

Omniscient, ALL knowing – He knows everything about us. Whilst this may not seem particularly relevant we should note that this includes knowing exactly where our faith lies, and where our heart is right or wrong in Him.

Omnipresent, Always present – God is always present in every meeting we attend or hold. When the Bible tells us that He, Holy Spirit, can be grieved and withdraws, it actually means that He is still there but is no longer willing to join in our meeting for whatever reason. He is still there, hoping ever optimistically, that we will allow Him into the meeting so He can do His work amongst us.

Omnipotent, ALL powerful – our God can always do anything we could ask or imagine but He will not if He is not allowed to move or “do His stuff” among us. Where there is no power in our meetings, there is usually a very good reason such as Him being unwelcome, or even because of sin in the meeting or in the people.

Because of this lack of invitation, or sin grieving Him, and despite His presence, His power and activity is absent and therefore lost to us. If this is the case for you, then let me extend my sincerest condolences for your losses. Losses – plural? Yes. Your loss of answered prayer. Your loss of healing. Your loss of expectant faith. And more. With shades of Elijah on Mount Carmel, perhaps if we shout louder, cry more fervently, or even beg Him, then He will “come” or “show up” or even manifest at your meetings.

All this usually because of our lack of real faith. I say ‘usually’ because there are occasions and circumstances when the answers we want do not fit in with God’s plan for our lives – but that is a whole different subject. I am talking here about praying with expectancy and not just hopefully.

Do you pray hoping God will show up? Or do you pray with any level of expectation? The words “mustard seed” spring to mind.