This comes from the Daily Hope website by Rick Warren.  It seems appropriate to share it today.  

“If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him … but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” (James 1:5-6 TLB)

God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person, God, and you have to ask with the right attitude — in faith, expecting an answer.

Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.

God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.

Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith.

In the last few weeks, I have been praying for what I truly need and for what it the best way to tackle a problem.  And God has answered prayer.  The problems are not completely solved, but the solution is becoming more clear.  In fact, I cannot expect my life on earth to ever be problem free…I will only have that in Heaven.  The thing to remember is that God may not fulfill our needs in our timeframe or in the way we were thinking they should be resolved.  It is easy to believe that God is not listening.  Sometimes a problem is solved by God in stages.  And sometimes the trial we are in is the solution….it is strengthening us and preparing us to fulfill our purpose and God’s will.  Do not become discouraged.  God is working on it, and God is in charge.  He really does know what He is doing, and He is working for our good.