how do I regard God?

Some people, some Christians, don't know how much this very thing matters. My regard for God makes a huge amount of difference in the outcome of my life.

Hebrews 11:11, "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise."

Abraham was not enabled to be father simply on the basis that God was good or God was faithful. He was enabled to become a father because of the way he regarded God. He considered God to be reliable. His feelings about God dictated the outcome to a promise God gave him. His church attendance, his Bible reading, his generosity did not dictate the answer to this promise. He believed God was faithful to carry out the promise.

I have read promises in the Bible and thought, "Well, I hope that turns out like that for me." This is an example of me not regarding God as faithful. James has this to say:

James 1:5-7, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 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. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

The context is asking God for wisdom but James expands it to asking God for anything. If I don't believe God will give it to me, then I shouldn't think I'm going to get anything from him at all. (This is no guarantee I'm going to get what I ask for, God is not at my beck and call. Prayers go seemingly unanswered for many reasons, but that is the subject of another post. I'm only speaking about my attitude and perspective on the matter.)