James 1:6

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. (NIV)

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. (The Message)

This is all about faith, about really believing when we ask for something in prayer that God is there, He is listening and that He does and will answer our prayers.

It's not always easy to do this. Doubts creep in, little niggles here and there telling us we are not worthy, that God doesn't listen to the prayers of people like us because we're "not good enough". Then there are the doubts that what we are asking for is something God can provide, can answer, can help with. An don't even begin to mention that doubts about God not caring!

But it does not actually say in the bible that God will only answer your prayers if you have been good, if you have never done anything wrong, if you act in this way or that way. Yes, it does talk about faith, about believing that whatever we ask for in Jesus name will be ours,

John 14:12-14 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

This is not a case of using Jesus' name as a magic talisman, the closing words to a prayer so that you get what you have asked for. This is a case of praying in faith, in line with the Father's will. And how do we get to know the Father's will? By reading the bible, listening for God, watching the times around us. After all, you have to ask your self whether God really does want you to have the big house, the fancy car, latest designer fashions. Some would have you believe that because you do not have a new car, you do not have faith, that somehow, God is a magician who wants you to have all the good things in life and the only thing stopping you is the lack of faith.

But take a look around. Look at the Christians in Africa who are starving, the women in the Sudan who cannot leave the camps in safety because they are liable to be raped or worse. What about in Orissa, where there IS extreme persecution from Hindu extremists? Or in Pakistan where Islamic extremists burnt alive 14 Christians in their home? Is what they are suffering due to their lack of faith, their lack of belief? If so, how do you reconcile this with the miracles that are taking place there? The healings, the dead being raised, the amazing things that are happening and the absolutely awesome faith of the believers despite all that they are going through?

We need to really trust in God, to believe without a shadow of a doubt that God is listening each and every single time we pray. That when we pray, we are entering into the presence of the Almighty, having a special audience with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of all, the Father, Holy One, Lord God Almighty. How can we even presume to come before him not even trusting in His word, in his faithfulness, His love and compassion?

James says that when we doubt we are like a wave of the sea being tossed about by the wind and Eugene Petersen in The Message talks about people worrying their prayers. We need to live our faith, to really and truly believe in our heart of hearts that when we pray, things move in heaven, that God hears our cries, no matter how softly spoken, how garbled they come out. We need to trust God at all times and in all circumstances. Because God does care. He cares when we haven’t got enough money to put food on the table, when we can't pay our bills, when a loved one is ill or dying, when we don't know which way to turn because of all the problems around us. So take everything to God in prayer, the bog things in life, and the little things. Look for God in everything and anything around us, in the people we meet, the things they say and do, the events happening around the world. See the glory of His creation every day from the birds singing in the morning and the chill of the Autumn air, the rain falling outside, the sun shining down on everything, to the evening stars, when the night draws in and you can see the bats flying around outside (at least you can here where we live!).

God is all around us in everything we see, in the people we meet, we just have to open our eyes and see Him, trust Him. God does care, God does love us, no matter how big or small our faith, how good or bad we have been, no matter what our lifestyle, our habits. And He will answer our prayers. It may not be in the way we expect. After all, if we have no money to pay the bills, we may not get an envelope of money shoved through our letterbox, but we may get an amenable person on the other end of the phone when we ring to say we can't pay who agrees an instalment plan. Our prayers may call for instantaneous action for God so that as soon as we have finished praying, we expect to get what we have asked for, but if a days is as a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years is as a day (1 Peter 3:9), then ten years is actually only 14.4 minutes to God, so we also need to learn patience!

Don't let yourself be tossed this way and that by your doubts, your worries, the cares and problems of this world. The enemy is always prowling around, seeking to sidetrack us, to get us to take our eyes off Jesus, to turn away from God. Do not be a wind swept wave, tossed hither and thither, never knowing which way you are going and letting the trials of life blow you around. Ask God for the faith to believe, to not doubt. Remember the father in Mark 9:24 "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief" (NIV).