John Knox Asking in Faith

James 1:6, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”


To “ask in faith” is, among other things, to ask in accordance with the Word of God. To ask in faith is to request nothing that is contrary to the commands, or promises or revealed ways of the Lord.


Queen Mary of Scotland when she travelled into west Scotland on state business had Mass in various towns and stately homes contrary to the laws of the realm. John Knox of course was kept informed of news of her journey west. After meals Knox was in the habit of giving thanksgiving and prayer. During the queens journey he began to add to this thanksgiving the petition, "Deliver us, O Lord, from the bondage of idolatry; preserve and keep us from the tyranny of strangers; continue quietness and concord among us, if it be thy good pleasure, for a season." Those of his company were struck why he should request peace only for a season. Knox answered, he could not pray but in faith and in accordance with the Word of God. He went on to say that God's Word taught that quietness could not continue in that country, where idolatry, after it was suppressed, was suffered to be erected again. Knox knew that sin and quietness in a realm could not long coexist.