James | Ch. 1
From Daniel's Desk on 4/23/19
My Title: Your FAITH Will Be Tested
My Verse: James 1:2-4
"2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. 3 For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."
My Response:
Every good and perfect gift is from above. WHY NOT ASK God to bless your life? Don't expect to receive something contrary to HIS story OR something that you don't realize isn't good for you! But you DO have a GOOD Father that is TRUSTWORTHY and FAITHFUL. He WANTS you to know Him as such! BUT, that DOESN'T mean He is a genie in a bottle as some would assume your faith has the power to enslave Him as such!!!
God wants to give you good things. He's promised to give you WISDOM if you ask for it. But God's big thing has always been FAITH. BELIEVE in Him and the things He says! The more you learn to walk in His will the more you will realize that the things you are asking for are filtered first through HIS plan and always submit to HIS will.
Not everything is for you to understand. In the suffering of all sorts of trials you should be able to find joy on account of WHO your heavenly Father and Savior is! Sometimes the answer will be that the GRACE that He shed for you at the cross will be a gift great enough to eclipse the pain and suffering that He refuses to remove. If ever that is the case it's not just to let you suffer but to ACCOMPLISH something in you or for you... even if the reward will be delivered to you in His forever kingdom. You can find joy in that BECAUSE you HAVE a Savior.
So, today, don't avoid your struggles or even work to alleviate them. Look at your list again, square in the face and seek to find the JOY that you can take from each one, and then THANK GOD for it. Don't be a weenie.
My Notes:
Joy from trials of VARIOUS kinds! (So, what are you facing and how can you find JOY in them?)
Work consistency, sustainability, time and resource. - Christ will be glorified by your refinery. You get to literally SEE God's HAND of provision... for YEARS now. The LORD is accomplishing the work in HIS time. REST in that. He has PERFECT timing and no He doesn't need your help to decide what's best.
This will build the endurance of your FAITH.
ASK for wisdom and it WILL be given!
Look what the meant for Solomon
But you have to ask in faith without doubting.
A person driven, tossed by the wind of doubt should not suppose that they will receive anything from the Lord.
Doubtful person is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Everything is UPSIDE DOWN!
The lowly should boast in his exultation.
Rich should boast in his humiliation.
STAND STEADFAST
Blessed is the man that remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life. - God's promised this to those who love Him.
God tempts no one.
Lured and enticed by his OWN desire.
Desire births sin.
Sin grows into death.
Every good and perfect gift is from above!
Be SLOW to SPEAK and SLOW to ANGER
Be DOERS of the Word and NOT JUST HEARERS