James 1:4-8 --A Prayer

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature⁹ and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,¹⁰ who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.¹¹ 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,¹² because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man,¹³ unstable¹⁴ in all he does.  James 1:4-8

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  Psalm 23:1

                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Lord, I believe this is what you mean when you say “mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”  It’s when I can say “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” And I’m not just saying words but I’m saying what is true for me because I fully trust you.  I know that it’s the many trials that come that test my faith to see if I’m there yet—where I can really say “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”  It’s the trials that test my faith and it’s then that I can hear you asking “do you believe I am a good Shepherd and that I can and I will watch over you and take good care of you?”  It’s then that I so often say “I do believe; help my unbelief”.  Over and over I see how the trials test my faith by revealing areas of unbelief in my heart that I didn’t realize were there.  As you give me the strength to persevere, I always find that you also strengthen my faith to trust you as my Shepherd.  You are so patient with me!  You are such a great Teacher!  You always give me opportunities to put my newly strengthened faith in action as I make my way through the trials.  I always need your wisdom to know how to do that; thank you that you give it generously without finding fault with me for asking.

Thank you, my good Shepherd, that you strengthen me so I can persevere through the trials that come. 

      Thank you that you lovingly and gently expose and help me with any unbelief in my heart. 

             Thank you that you give me wisdom to know how to put my faith into action in times of trials! 

                    You are a good Shepherd!

                           Amen and Amen!