READ
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.
4 And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4, LSB)
REFLECT
Remind yourself it is a joy to be tried. Testing of faith brings perseverance. Perseverance makes you perfect and complete, lacking nothing in your soul.
PRAY
You are Holy and I am not so every trial is a choice to choose the holy way or the broken way. It is a joy to use my faith muscles to persevere in holiness to be like you and grow my soul. Though it is very painful for my pride and my flesh it produces good fruit. Help me Jesus see this fight as soon as it comes. When I first respond it usually is out of my flesh instead of my spirit. Help me pause and then respond correctly. See it as a training in discipline not as an attack on me personally from whatever the source. The devil means it for harm but you mean it for good if I choose correctly. Help!
READ
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8, LSB)
REFLECT
If I do not understand and need guidance I can ask God. He does not reproach anyone for asking for the right thing to do, He generously gives. I must ask though believing He will answer me and wait for the answer however long or even however it comes across. Sometimes the answer is not the way we expect.
Doubt is like being caught in the surf tossed constantly by the wind and the mind is unstable in all things.
PRAY
I am unstable in my life because I am doubting. My mind and heart are anxious because I am unstable. I must ask God the way to go and expect an answer in faith that He is generous. Please help me my Father, I’m sorry for my doubting and my unstable thinking. I repent and believe! Amen.
READ
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death. (James 1:13–15, LSB)
REFLECT
God absolutely does not tempt people. He gives them tests as choices. Evil comes from my brokenness and desire for wrong things that I think look good to me. I am tempted when I think in human terms then enticed by my desire for something wrong. When I decide to get it (conceive) I do the wrong (birth to sin), after it is mature it brings death (my soul is harmed and darkened).
PRAY
God, help me see from your eyes. Come Holy Spirit, show me how to live in the Spirit not my flesh. They are constantly at war and I don’t understand how to choose the correct way because the wrong way looks right sometimes. I need help my King and Lord! Direct my mind heart soul and spirit in your way! Amen.
READ
19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:19–22, LSB)
REFLECT
I must LISTEN. I must resist talking. I must be very slow to anger. When I get angry my mind distorts reality because it wants release. I must choose righteousness like God. I have to think through what God would have me do not what my flesh wants to do which is to release it all over someone. Forsake filth and wickedness, turn and leave it behind! Receive God’s Word. Implant it in your soul so much you can’t forget it, not forgetting it will make you more likely to do it. Doing it saves your soul! If you just hear it and not do the Word you are in delusion. Delusion is sin because you are refusing truth and reality.
PRAY
Father, I do not want to live a delusion. I want truth and reality in You my God and King! Help me shut my mouth, listen to you, choose to obey even when it hurts because this builds my faith. I must forsake anger, filth, and wickedness in my flesh. Help me bring to mind your Word. I must devote myself to it. Help me get more into your word! I love you my God!
READ
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26–27, LSB)
REFLECT
If I think I’m religious and part of God’s family but I don’t control my talk my religion is worthless! Worthless means not worth anything!! Nonexistent! And it is a self deception and a chosen self inflicted heart wound. I am to choose to be unstained by the world. I am to reject the world’s way and follow full hearted God’s ways!
PRAY
Well I can see my life is worthless when I am not obeying your will your way in your time. I must stop talking out of my flesh and listen to you before responding or I am in the world. I do not want to be self deceived. I do not want to hurt my heart, I want my heart to be yours my Lord! I have to be recollected and live inside with you. I must listen for your direction at every moment. Help me follow your will my Lord, King, and God! Amen.
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