Four Misconceptions About Who God Is

"Let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." ~ James 1:6-7 HCSB

I just read a chapter in "The Battle Plan for Prayer" that I hope changes your life! I will admit, I have prayed for things and doubted that God would do it. Have you ever done that? I think I've done that with big things like healing someone, and small things like a close up parking spot at the mall. Why do we struggle with doubting that God will answer our prayers?

The Kendrick brothers might have figured out why. We don't really know who God is. "When you pray, you should rest in the fact that God is not unaware, unable, uncaring, unwilling, or unlikely to answer. This lack of faith will clog up your prayer life. You'll quit wanting to come close to God if you don't trust Him or believe He is good."

That's so true! Think about it, how many "friends" do you still talk talk or hang out with that you don't trust? Trust is everything, right? If we pray and don't believe God will answer, why pray?

Here are the four misconceptions that the Kendrick brothers compiled:

1. God doesn't know or understand my needs.  God does know you. He knows you better than you know yourself. His nature is omniscience, all knowing. He knows the number of hairs on your head, He knows how many stars are in the sky, and He knows what you need before you even ask.

Maybe that makes you question, "If He already knows, why pray?" Because, prayer is
1. Intimately knowing, loving, and worshiping God
2. Conforming our lives to His will and ways
3. Accessing and advancing His kingdom, power and glory

"All of these require interaction. God could do things without us. But He's too good and kind to kick us to the curb."

2. God isn't able to help. Ephesians 3:20 says,"He's able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think." He has total power. He is omnipotence. Look at his perfect track record and don't doubt when you pray.

3. God doesn't care. Maybe you are questioning, "If He knows everything and can do everything, why won't He help me?" Lack of immediate action should never be determined as lack of concern. He cares for you more than anyone else in your life.

4. God isn't likely to do anything anyway. Mark 11:24 says, "I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you."  We are the ones who are weak and unwilling! We don't want to believe, wait, accept or have all of our questions answered. God is not a genie who grants wishes. We should be glad of that. Who wants to worship a God that can be controlled by people?

Getting to know God better will help you in your prayer life. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Absorb His Word. Follow His teachings. 

There is no time like the present!

If you struggle with a daily quiet time with God, I am hoping to have my book E-published on January 1st. Why not start a new year off with a new devotional? Take 60 days and read one a day, then pray and draw closer to God. 

If you need prayer, all you have to do is ask.
God bless you today and always.