Daily Bread_May 29, 2014

Title: How Do You Have Joy When Circumstances Are Not Perfect?

Text:

James 1:2-3 (HCSB)
² Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Observation:

Notice that the text says whenever you experience various trails. In this present age we can expect to have trials in our Christian walk. Notice what the Apostle Paul said to his mentee Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:12 (HCSB)
In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Our relationship with God matters; our faith in God matters. When our trust is firmly rooted in God and His grace and goodness we are able to benefit from the trials and troubles of this present world. When viewed in the light of God's wisdom trials will work for us and not against us; they will produce in us endurance.

Romans 5:1-4 (HCSB)
¹ Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I ask you to help me to set a guard over what my eyes see, my ears hear, where my feet go, and what my heart loves. Father, when you test my life, I pray that you will find it acceptable to you. Lord, You know that I need endurance; I need a faith that will not falter or fail in the day of trials.

"O for a faith that will not shrink.
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe;

That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chastening rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain
Can lean upon its God;" (William Bathurst)

Lord, I thank You for being a God I can lean hard upon in my day of trial. Father, I thank You for the hope that I have; yes, it's in Jesus. In His mighty name I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

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