The Night Seasons

Psalm 16:7-8  I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.I have set the LORD always before me;  Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


Girls, I look back at the many trials I have endured over the past 15 or 16 years and my thoughts always go to these two verses.  The Lord truly has been my comfort during those times as well as my counselor.  He has instructed me and guided me through each one.  Even the night was light about me when I woke up worried and anxious over one thing or another.  Why...because I had set Him always before me and He was at my right hand.  When I think of the possibility of going through any trial without Him, I literally shudder. Knowing that the Lord is my instructor and guide I can move ahead in His confidence knowing that He is working out His special purpose for my life and is guiding me along the path of life and fullness of joy.


What does it mean to set the Lord always before you?  It means exactly what it says it means. He goes before me...He shows me the way in which to walk  My job is to follow His lead and obey. "Therefore, He is at my right hand and I shall not be moved."  I don't stumble through life.  I walk with the God of the Universe pointing me in the direction I need to go.  I walk with the God of the Universe's will and purpose in my life unfolding continually.  His will is what I want...His desire is what I want. My hope is in Him...it really doesn't matter what happens here...I am His and will be His forever. Where He leads, I will follow. He has my life in His hands and can do with me as seems good to Him.

Girls, this is the best way to live.  When the Lord is your Shepherd goodness and mercy will follow.  Goodness will surround your footsteps and mercy will cover your missteps.  He will work all in your life for good.  He will make all the decisions.  All you need do is follow.  He will be at your right hand....you shall not be moved.  Here are just some of the verses from the Psalms that speak of His right hand.  They speak of  safety, pleasure, power, honor, favor and support.  Read them and be encouraged.


Psalm 121:5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

Psalm 63:8  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.


Psalm 73:23  Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 139:10  Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 44:3  For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.


I end with some words to one of the first worship songs I ever heard...it is one I sing daily in my heart. 

O God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You
O God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.

And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.

Love

Mom

Baited, Hooked and Trapped...

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.--James 1:14-16

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

These are some of those most helpful, practical verses in Scripture.  They helped me change the way I thought about sin and enabled me to sin less.  I stopped letting myself be deceived by blaming my sin on God, some physical ailment, on someone else or Satan and saw that I was responsible for my sin.  I saw that there was an enemy inside, my flesh, that I needed to deal with and control.  For more on this go here:  The Blame Game - James 1:13

James starts off by telling us every man is tempted.  Temptation is common to all of us.  We are drawn away by our own desires and enticed.  Let's break that down a little bit.  What draws us away from the perfect will of God:   Our own lusts...our own desires....what WE want as opposed to what God wants.  The third reason God is not the source of our sin is the nature of lust. Lust comes from within our fallen nature.

James uses the hunting and fishing terms dragged and enticed in verse 14.  (feeling flattered??) The first speaks of an animal being lured into a trap and the second of a baited hook.  The bait covers the sorrow, pain and death that lies underneath.  The reason animals are baited  is to deceive them into being drawn into the trap. Instead of experiencing pleasure when they take the bait, they face capture and death.  The same thing happens to us girls.  Maybe it is a little more subtle, but we face the same kind of temptations.  The baited hooks come in all different shapes and sizes and some are more appealing to us than others because our lusts are our own...they are individual to us. Nevertheless, we are baited, hooked and trapped by them in a deadly way. 


James drops the hunting and fishing analogies in verse 15 to talk about babies.  Quite a switch.  He says then when lusts has conceived it brings forth a child and the child when it is full grown brings forth death.  Uh oh.  Do you see that sin is not a solitary act like some of us might like to think.  The bible tells us it is a process.  Girls, I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this is to know if you want to gain control of the enemy within. Here is how it starts...It starts with desire which plays with our emotions.  So we see something and we get that feeling that we want it.  We begin to feel that it will satisfy us. We begin to long for it.  Sin begins with desire.  It goes to the mind next.

The second "d" is deception.  This is when you start to reason with yourself why you need whatever it is you desire.  You justify it in your mind.  You begin to think you have a right to it.   It starts with desire in the emotion and then to deception in the mind as you try to rationalize your desire. 

The next thing that happens is sin is conceived in your will.  John MacArthur calls this "design".   Sin is conceived at the moment we convince our minds that we have every right to have whatever it is we want.  Once the mind is convinced...then it conceives of the sin itself.  Plans it, so to speak. 


The last "d" stands for disobedience.  The actual sin is committed and this, of course, occurs in the behavior.  Sin begins with desire in the emotions.  The emotions lead the mind to justify or rationalize the sin.  Once the mind is convinced, the sin is conceived in the will and acted upon in the behavior.

The last part of verse 15 says that when the child (sin) is full grown it brings forth death...literally it is a killer! You are being deceived if you think you are getting away with any sin and not experiencing consequences. Sin always results in death of some kind. Death in relationships, death of relationships, death of opportunity for blessing...and on and on.  Look carefully at those things in your life that are not in accordance with His will...even those you think might be harmless...follow the logical progression and you will find the end of it is death.   

So why did I say these verses are so practical?  They are practical because, as I said before, they tell us that sin is a process...it is not something that just happens out of the blue. We can stop it  before the sin is conceived  at the emotional level or in the mind...if it reaches the will..it is too late.  How? By being careful what we expose our emotions and our minds too.  A fool's mind is an open door...not discerning...allowing anything through.  It is also important to understand that emotions bypass our intellect. When we feel an emotional rush coming...stop and THINK!  Both our emotions and our minds need to be guarded by the word of God. Our emotions need to find a willing mate in our mind for sin to be conceived.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.--2nd Corinthians 10:4-5

How do we do this practically...the answer you will get from me is always the same.  Immerse yourself in the word.  Bring your mind and emotions under the control of the Spirit of God by saturating yourself in the word of God.  You will then have a mind renewed and transformed by His word.  A mind set on things above not on earthly things. Are you getting the picture?  Surrender to the Spirit of God and want what God wants in your life.  Let Him be your all in all.  Abide in His word...dwell there.

Secondly, stop blaming God or anyone else for your sin.  Verse 16 says it all:  DO NOT BE DECEIVED MY BELOVED BRETHREN (MY DAUGHTERS.) You have NO ONE to blame but yourself.  Stop walking around blindly...the enemy is you.  Start looking within when you sin.  What is your heart set on that you are willing to sin to get it.  Ask yourself what is it that you wanted that you were not getting that caused you to be impatient, unkind or unforgiving to those the Lord has placed in your life.  As you do this it will become clear to you that it is your own lusts that get you into trouble. 

Having done this repent of any wrong desires and ask God to give you the right desires (His desires) and by faith make the decision to move in the direction where Christ is leading you. Do it whether you feel like it or not, asking and counting on Him to align your will with His. Little by little you will see the fruit.

This process is the key to victory over sin.  It is a moment by moment dying to self and living for Christ. Putting off the old man and putting on the new. Remember you are part of God's plan. You have works that He has prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. You can't fulfill his perfect plan for you unless you are living for Him and dying to your wants and desires. You can't do that without surrendering moment by moment to God's Spirit and allowing Him to live through you. As a believer God promises to work all things together for you for good, but imagine what he can do with someone who is fully submitted to Him and His desires. Imitate Christ who fully submitted Himself to His Father making our redemption possible. Put all your energies and efforts into living for Christ.

Love
Mom

Looking to the Reward - James 1:12

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him--James 1:1-12 


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

We have reached the last verse of this section.


Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

This last verse is not about an attitude that is necessary for us to persevere through a trial...we have discussed each of those.  This is about the reward.  I love looking to the reward!  During Jesus' time crowns were given for victorious athletic achievements.  When we stay close to Jesus during our times of trials and temptations and we persevere through it says here that we will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.  This is the believer's ultimate reward...eternal life. We are not saved by enduring trials but we are rewarded for enduring them...both temporally and eternally.  Trials work for us here on earth in many ways. (See Count it all Joy ) Believers are also promised crowns of glory, righteousness and rejoicing and all of them are imperishable...incorruptible...they will not fade away!  Each one describes certain aspects of eternal life and are earned at the judgment seat of Christ.  If we are a believer, the suffering we face here is the worst things are ever going to be for us and our trials will benefit us.  If we are not a believer, this life is the best we will ever have and our trials will serve to make us increasingly bitter and weary.

The last part of verse 12 really touched my heart...Who is promised the crown of life?  Believers,  those who love Him.  First Corinthians 13:4-8 is the best description of love in the bible.  Agape, self-sacrificing love is the basis for all that we do when we are in Christ.  Why...because it was the basis for all He did for us.  We love Him because He first loved us.  Here are the verses from Corinthians: 


Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
 
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails..... 

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 



And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.--1 Cor 13:1-8, 12-13

Unless we have Love (God is love - 1 John 4:16) we are nothing...  The only way to profit from a trial here on this earth IS as a believer who loves God and has His love shed abroad in his heart.  Otherwise our suffering does not profit us here nor does it profit us in the life to come.  As we cling to Him through our trials we grow in faith, hope and love and begin to resemble the essence of Christ more and more.  

So...in reviewing.....We can count it all joy in times of trial because we know that  trials come from His heart of love for us.  We can know and consider the difficulties we face as opportunities for great joy because of what God will accomplish in us and through us for His glory and our good. We can surrender our will to Him because He loves us with a perfect love and perfect love casts out fear.  We can ask for wisdom and have a believing heart to receive because we love Him...loving Him means trusting Him. We can have a humble spirit because as believers, going through trials, we begin to look up to Him more and more and realize who we are and WHO HE IS.  The closer we draw to Him the more we see not only our own unworthiness but also our inadequacy to the task.   

2 Corinthians 12:9 says: "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Secure in the love of God we can persevere through trials and grow up and mature and bear fruit here for Him.  I will end with a quote from Charles B. Williams via Warren Wiersbe.

"God’s purpose in trials is maturity. “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The Charles B. Williams translation says it graphically: “But you must let your endurance come to its perfect product so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped.”

If that is what you want, then in love to Christ and with all humility, count, know, let, and ask.


Love
Mom

I heard this song and it reminded me of these studies in James especially this last one.

Who am I by Casting Crowns

Trials the Great Equalizers

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him--James 1:1-12 

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


We are still talking about trials and the attitudes that are necessary to persevere and have victory in our difficulties.  We have already looked at 4.  A joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a surrendered will and a believing heart.  The last one is a humble spirit.

Here are the verses we will be looking at today:  

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.--James 1:9-11

God is no respecter of persons.  Trials come to everyone. They level the playing field and make believers, rich or poor, increasingly dependent on God.  They, by design, wean us off of earthly things and teach us to set our minds on things above.

The poor or lowly brother can glory in his exaltation.  The word glory there means to take legitimate pride or boast.  When the humble of circumstances become discouraged they can dwell on riches they have in Christ. The lowly person can boast or rejoice in his spiritual heritage. Romans 8:17 says this:  "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." WOW!  Imagine if that were always our focus. He can also rejoice in God's sovereignty knowing God does all things perfectly, and that where he finds himself is exactly where he needs to be in order to fulfill God's perfect plan for Him.  

The rich man can boast in his humiliation knowing that as he is brought low he comes to understand more and more that joy and contentment come from Christ alone...earthly riches do not satisfy. Hebrews 10:34 says: "for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven." Flowers of the field will fade away and be no more as will the rich man...but when we set our minds on things above and store up our treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy or take away; we become spiritually more stable less focused on the passing riches of this world and more on the eternal.. Earthly riches are fleeting and limited only to this world.

I love it...if we are poor or if we are rich we can still see beyond this world and be free of its chains to see the troubles we experience here with a heavenly perspective.   This is so needed as we go through trials.  It is so easy to see only what is right in front of us and lose sight of what is really important.

We can extrapolate this to other things also...whatever condition, circumstances or station we find ourselves in, in this life, we can accept them as being exactly where God wants us to be.  He is sovereign after all. We are what we are by the grace of God.  To argue and complain against God about it is foolish.  Aside from putting ourselves in a position to judge what God has so graciously blessed us with, we are focusing on ourselves.  Focusing on ourselves is NEVER productive and ALWAYS leads to unhappiness.  I think as women many of us spend so much time thinking about our size, shape, looks, talents, etc. that there really is no time left to think on the Lord, no less anyone else!  Lose your life here and gain it in the life to come...He must increase, I must decrease...It is not only the way of the cross, it is by definition the road to joy and abundant life.

As believers, going through trials, we begin to look up to Him more and more and realize who we are and WHO HE IS.  The closer we draw to Him the more we see our own unworthiness.  A humble spirit will COUNT it all joy and rejoice in times of trial.  A humble spirit will LET the Lord work in Him because he KNOWS that the Lord 's plan for him is perfect.  He will ASK for help in times of trial because he sees his own inadequacy to the task.  I will close with Jeremiah 9:23-24:

Thus says the LORD:  “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might,  Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,” says the LORD--Jeremiah 9:23-24

Love
Mom 

Ask with a Believing Heart....

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.--James 1:12

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

Continuing in the first chapter of the book of James we are looking at  today at the fourth attitude necessary to help us triumph in trials, asking for wisdom with a "believing heart."  Here are verses 5-8.
 
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."--James 1:5-8


I am laughing at the first part of that verse....which one of us does NOT lack wisdom.  I am always asking for it and am grateful that it is divine wisdom that I receive.  The wisdom from the world is constantly changing and is filled with "agendas".  The wisdom from above and the wisdom from this world are contrasted in James chapter 3. These verses are good ones to hide in your heart.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Wisdom is the practical aspect of intelligence.  It is the understanding and skill needed to live this life for His glory.  It is the practical application of the Word of God in our lives.  By design, God uses trials to wean us away from dependence on the things of the world to total dependence on Him.  He wants us to cry out to Him in prayer for wisdom. Jesus Christ contains all the wisdom and knowledge of God.   He wants to pour it on us abundantly.

Look at the next verse, however.  It tells us to ask in faith with no doubting.  I have said it before and I will say it again: the book of James is where the rubber meets the road.  Where do you really and truly place your faith or your trust--In the wisdom of man or in the wisdom of God?  Are you only hedging your bets when you ask God for help or are you truly and willingly putting all your eggs in His basket and waiting on Him for your answer?  If your loyalty is divided...if you are double minded...maybe not completely convinced that God's way is best or even of His loving care -- than James tells you will receive nothing from the Lord.

According to John MacArthur, the definition of double-minded in the Greek is literally  having one's mind divided between the world and God.  Girls, we are not to go back and forth like the tides between the world and God.  Truly that is the picture of spiritual immaturity and instability.  God does not want equivocators....He does not want lukewarm...He does not want our occasional belief.  He does not want us to go to Him for wisdom if we are reserving the right to disobey if we don't like His answer.  He wants a heart united for Him.   A believing heart that knows that He is sovereign and does all He does for our good and His glory. He wants our wholehearted devotion, trust and commitment. This is the man that God will give to liberally and without reproach.

How does God answer when we ask with a believing heart?  He responds through His people, through His word and through what I call heart direction.

Proverbs tells us that there is much wisdom in many counselors and where there are no counselors the people fall.  As we discuss issues on our hearts with the people of God, His light will shine through and perhaps give us some guidance.

The second way God answer's is through His word. God's will is revealed to us in His word. Christ is wisdom incarnate...He is the Word. In Him lay all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Psalm 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."  Psalm 119:130 says "the entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."  How perfect is that.  The heart David had for God's word is the heart we are to have.  Search His word daily and allow Him to light and guide your path...His word is His gift to us.

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.--Psalm 119:97-104

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.--Hebrews 4:12-16

The third way God answers us is by heart direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."  Basically, I pray and acknowledge His sovereignty and  my own inadequacy in knowing what to do or what path to take.  I then ask the Lord to direct my steps even if and when I misstep! I ask Him to guide me through His word and His people...to open and shut doors as I walk.  In another words, He walks the path with me. The key is to acknowledge that He knows better than me the direction I need to take and that MY DESIRE IS TO FOLLOW HIM!

So let's once again put it all together to see the big picture that James is painting. We can COUNT it all joy and make a conscious effort to face our trials with joy because we KNOW it is HE working in us and through us and HE loves us and has our best interests at heart.  Therefore, we can LET HIM work knowing we have nothing to fear.  When we do that we become perfect and complete and lack nothing.  Mature.  If we do not know how to respond in a trial God tells us to ASK Him for wisdom with a believing united heart and He will give to us liberally and without reproach.

Love
Mom


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Surrendered Mind - James 1:4

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.--James 1:12


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

We are moving right along in the book of James and have reached verse 4 after only three posts! (I am holding up a sarcasm sign)  Verse 4  reads like this:  "But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing." The third attitude necessary to have victory through a trial James says is a surrendered or submissive mind.  (Let) I know you hate the sound of it...I did too, until I realized that the alternative (rebelling) hurt way worse and caused the trial at times to go on endlessly and become unproductive.  It truly is better to LET God work in us than to get in the way in an attempt to make the situation less painful.  We are after all dirt and He after all is the Potter.  He truly does know best. His plan for us is from His heart of love.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.--Jeremiah 29:11
 
We resist the Lord's will and the clay or vessel is marred in the hand of the Great Potter, and He has to begin all over again.  We submit and He works us into a thing of beauty.  The most beautiful thing about submitting is that it is an act of faith and whenever we walk in faith we access His grace.  Walking along the path then that God has laid out for us, however, painful, is actually the easiest because His God's grace or unmerited favor is poured out.  I LIKE THAT! WHAT AN INCENTIVE!! I mean how can unmerited favor be bad??    On the other hand, when we do what it is right in our own eyes and jump off the Romans 12:1 altar, we resist Him.  We resist God.  How silly ..how far can you get resisting God?  God does not pour out His grace on the proud but on the humble. In fact,  "God resists the proud (those of us who think we know better) but gives grace to the humble. (those of us who know we are dust)

Do you see how these three attitudes are coming together girls...We can COUNT it all joy and make a conscious effort to face our trials with joy because we KNOW it is HE working in us and through us and HE loves us and has our best interests at heart.  Therefore, we can LET HIM work knowing we have nothing to fear.  When we do that we become perfect and complete and lack nothing.  It is important to note that the word perfect there does NOT mean sinless perfection.  It means mature...and remember that is the goal of the book of James...to increase our spiritual maturity.  Our trials drive us into a deeper relationship with our Lord in which we trust Him more and more.  A deeper relationship with God and a immersion in His word enables us to be like that tree planted by the rivers of water.  Spiritually stable and mature.  Not much can throw us and when it does we look up and into His word and are once again on a Rock.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Jehovah God is the Becoming One...He becomes for us whatever our need may be.  As we surrender our hearts to Him and by the power of His Spirit inside walk in obedience allowing Him to have His way, we are perfect and have need of nothing because in Him every need is fulfilled.

BEAUTIFUL...


Love
Mom

Understanding Mind - James 1:3

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.  ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.--James 1:12


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

As discussed in my previous letter, the first 12 verses in Chapter 1 of James give us 5 key attitudes to cultivate in a trial. The first we have already discussed:  a joyful attitude.  The last four are an understanding mind, a submissive will, a believing heart and a humble spirit. Today we are going to look at how having an understanding mind can help.  Look at what verse 3 says:  "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

The word testing means proof or proving.  Patience here means the perseverance or endurance that is produced in a believer's life as he is tested by trials which enables him to endure and even thank God for the benefits that the trial produced.   As a believer  we can consider difficulties as an opportunity for great joy because of what God will accomplish in us and through us for His glory and our good.  It is not that we pretend to be happy about facing the pain, but underlying it all is the rock solid knowledge that our God is in control....that the Lord omnipotent reigns in the affairs of men. We can be sure that as we wait on Him, obey Him and trust Him, He will produce in us through purifying trials, those things necessary to make us more like Him. Those things necessary to help us endure through and receive the crown of life.


The most amazing thing for me as a believer is that when I look back on any trial I have gone through my mind does not go to the "I am so glad it is over page."  My "mind" immediately falls down on its knees in utter gratitude for those trials.   WHY??   Because through them I got to see,  know and love Jesus.  It was through difficulties that I began to give HIM preeminence in my life. I began to look up before I looked anywhere else. Through the trials I see God's grace and love for me.  I see how He had carefully prepared me years before for the trials that I am experiencing even today.   He CARES about my every step.  He IS with me in every way.  He hedges me behind and before. He KNOWS the way I take.  We as believers learn to withstand the trial because we have learned to cherish the benefits! 

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal--2 Cor 4:17-19


"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."--Romans 5:3-5

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."--2nd Corinthians 12:7-10


Love
Mom

 

James 1:2 - Count it all JOY

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:  Greetings. ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  ⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. --James 1:1-12

 Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

James major emphasis in this section as well as in the entire book of James is that genuine faith when tested comes forth as gold.  It endures the test...it survives. It is easy to be kind, gentle and sweet when things are going our way but what happens when our comfort is disrupted?  Trials always remind me of an Amy Carmichael quote that basically says a cup filled to the brim with sweet water cannot spill a drop of bitter.  How do you react to trials?  Does your normally sweet water spill bitter?  If your faith is genuine, it will not disappear during the hard times.  In fact, the hard times will strengthen it!


Think of the trials in your life as tools in God's hand.  They have many purposes...I have memorized this list (that is paraphrased from one developed by John MacArthur)  because it is helpful for me to review when I am discouraged in the midst of a trial and "forget" God's ways and purposes.  Here is the list: Trials conform us to the image of His Son,  trials strengthen us,  trials humble us, trials draw us away from the things of the world, trials make us look up to Him, trials reveal those things that we really love, trials make us thankful, trials make us a better tool,  and trials enable us to comfort others.  Memorizing this list also helps me to remember how important it is to respond in the right way to a trial.  Why?? Look how much good they can produce in me!

The first 12 verses of James Chapter 1 give us 5 key attitudes that are needed to experience victory in trials.
John MacArthur breaks them down this way and then includes the reward in verse 12.  This list has been so helpful for me in examining my heart throughout a trial.  Truly, I have grown to love the author of James and thank God for him.  His advice is so direct and practical!  As you read the book you can almost feel his passionate desire that we would walk in "radical" obedience to the word of God.  He NEVER equivocates.

The five attitudes to cultivate mentioned in verses 1-12 are a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a submissive will, a believing heart and a humble spirit.  Okay...that is a tall order but we need to remember that our job is to just abide and obey and leave the methods and results to Him.   "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"--Philippians 1:6


Let's take it verse by verse. We have already looked at the first verse, save the greeting, in the introduction.   So let's  look at verse 2 today which says we are suppose to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. Now why would James say that?  I thought about...I memorized the book of James in May of this year and decided then that he was perhaps speaking as a father here and exhorting us to have the right attitude from the start in a trial.  A joyful one.  I don't know about you but my response to a trial in my flesh is never joyful.  My response is the opposite and so James is reminding us to make a conscious commitment to face them with joy.   "Count" means to evaluate...it is a financial term.  So we "count" them as joy.  Unlike unbelievers, believers can profit both temporally and eternally from a trial.  When we evaluate our life as a Christian our goals and priorities will be different than those prior to our salvation.  We are now living for the things that matter.  Not the temporal but the eternal. We set our mind on things above and not on the things of the earth.  We store up treasure in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy.

God tells us to expect trials...trials are very varied and individual.  Saved or unsaved we all experience them.  The difference is whether we experience them with Him or without Him.  As a believer God works all in our lives including our trials together for good.  The bible tells us that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Before we go any further let's define trial.  From John MacArthur...I loved this definition. "God brings such trials to prove---and increase-- the strength and quality of one's faith and to demonstrate its validity.  The word trial in Greek connotes something that connotes trouble or breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy and happiness in someone's life. The verb form means to put something to the test with the purpose of discovering that person's nature or the thing's quality. Every trial becomes a test of faith designed to strengthen; if the believer fails the test by responding wrongly, that test then becomes a temptation or a solicitation to evil." 


When we face trials we must look at them in the light of what God is doing in us.  He promises to change us from the inside out and uses trials to make us more like Him when we surrender to the work of His Spirit through our obedience to His word.  When we find our strength in Him in our trials and trust Him to work in our hearts, our trials are still difficult and still hurt, but we can have joy because we are now living for the things that matter.  It is  a matter of what we value.  What we love.  Where we are placing our hope. Trials by design pull the rug out on us and reveal our hearts.  WHICH IS NEVER PRETTY! They show us what we really value.  When I face a trial I remember that I died and my life is hidden with Christ in God. I live to magnify Him here on this earth.  If I can live for Him in a trial and not give in to temptation, then my life can glorify Him.  Isn't that what each one of us truly wants.  Purpose in your heart at the very onset of a trial to make it "count" for God. Look up and know that He is going to work it for His glory and your good.  Keep your eyes on Him.  Not on your circumstances.  Making the decision ahead of time really helps us to act rightly when the time comes.

Job 23:10  But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 


Love
Mom

Addendum from a previous study on John 18:  After writing this post, I reread my post from John 18 and then copied and pasted the relevant parts below.


It is helpful for me when facing anything to always look to Christ's example.  Let's look at His greatest trial...the cross....and see how He reacted.
 
John 18:4 says this:  "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.”" 

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him"....Wow...knowing all that would come upon Him...He went forward and handed Himself over to sinners...the very same ones He knew had rejected Him  and would crucify Him.  What grace! What love!

Jesus focused on the goal...our salvation...not on Himself or on His circumstances. He surrendered completely to His Father's will and laid down His life so that we who believe could live forever with Him.  He showed all around Him in His every word and action the essence of His Father. In doing this He showed us the way to glorify our Father in heaven because He did all He did by depending totally on His Father. Make no mistake...Christ was both God and man and yet whatever He did here on earth He did by faith just as we must do.  He did not use His divine powers.  He did all He did as a MAN.  We cannot take refuge in Him being God as the reason why He was able to do it. This fact is amazing to me...each time Jesus healed or spoke it was not Him it was the Spirit of God working through Him. He faced the cross and surrendered His life for us as a Man...depending entirely on His Father in heaven.  WOW!

Girls...whenever we look at Christ's life...really look at it...conviction will follow.  What an example He gave us for handling trials, offenses, rejection and grief.  He kept His eyes on the goal and focused on the joy (us) that was set before Him and despite the provocation he reacted graciously to all that were around Him.  Our goal here on earth is to glorify Him, to bring Christ close to those who do not know Him and to encourage those who do...to magnify Him.  To glorify Him. How do we do this...by living our lives for Him.  By remembering in offenses and sorrow that they are never about us...they are to be used to make us more like He is in order that others would see Jesus. Girls, don't get in the way by reacting to others in offense and unforgiveness or by retaliating in like manner. Remember grace...remember what we truly deserve and pray for those who may not have treated you like you think you deserved.  Christ reached out in love at the hour He faced the greatest of offenses and rejection - for you - and in so doing, He reflected the glory of God.

Love
Mom