Ask Early And Often

Ask Early and Often

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT THEMES throughout the Bible is that God will guide us if we let him. He directs our steps and delights in the details of our lives (Psalm 37:23); he shows us which path to take when we seek his will and refuse to rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6); he opens a way through the waters (Isaiah 43:16); and he promises that his plans for us are good (Jeremiah 29:11). From beginning to end, he has a plan for us, and he extends a certain latitude within that plan for us to exercise the choices he gives us. But in spite of all the wonderful promises about his guidance in our lives, many believing Christians still seem to lack direction. Why? Because we don’t always ask.

Perhaps it’s more accurate to say we tend to ask only when we reach a moment of decision, a fork in the road that prompts us to pray while we’re weighing the pros and cons. But that’s a remedial kind of prayer, a plea for momentary wisdom, a request for a transaction rather than a lifestyle—like asking him to take the wheel only when we’ve lost control of the car. But asking God for an understanding of his will should be a way of life from the start. He’ll step in at any moment, but sometimes not with the immediate information we crave. When we invite him into our decision-making, he comes to lay a foundation, and that takes time. When we ask him into a deadline-driven decision, time is limited. We may have already missed an opportunity to understand his purposes.

It’s never too early to ask God for wisdom. He is eager to guide us, even to show us things we will face down the road (Jeremiah 33:3). At any point, he is willing to steer our lives in the right direction—and sooner is always better.

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?