Saturday // 17th February 2024
Holiness and Integrity in Prayer
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
James 1:6-7 ESV
Asking isn’t enough. Your asking must be founded on integrity. A person who is double-minded, unstable in all he does is demonstrating unholiness because there is an inconsistency between what he says and what he actually believes and does. God says, “If you ask Me for something and then doubt that I will give it, don’t even think you will receive it.” God cannot give it if we doubt because He is holy and must remain true to what He has said in His Word.
Holiness is very practical and real. Holiness means “one”—not the number one, but one in the sense of “complete.” Holiness denotes the concept of being integrated. Integrated comes from the same word as integrity. God has integrity because what He says, what He does, and who He is are the same. That’s exactly what holiness means. God always does what He says He is going to do because He is one with Himself.
Why is this important to prayer? Unholiness cannot remain in His presence. In the Old Testament, if someone went into God’s presence without being holy, he died. God warned the priests, in effect, “Do not come into My presence unless you are holy, because I am holy. If you come without being holy, it will destroy you.” Those who died in that way did not die because God likes to kill people. They died because holiness and unholiness cannot exist together. God says, “The pure in heart will see Me.” (Matthew 5:8.)
Double-mindedness is the opposite of holiness and integrity. If you are integrated, then what you say, what you believe, what you do, and how you respond are the same. If you tell God you believe Him, but then act in the opposite way when you are on your job, taking care of your children, or with your friends, then you are not integrated, pure, holy. You are double-minded. “That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord”
Your brother in Christ,
Apostle Ashok Martin