True confession – have you ever had days when hearing these
words could tempt you to roll your eyes? I have! The very last thing you may consider
doing in an agonizing situation is to be joyful! But, fellow believers, when you
settle down within yourself, quiet your rebellious spirit and move on to the
following verses you are reminded that it is for your own good that you regard hardship
as righteous joy and not evil.
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything (James 1:3-4) If after this you are still having
trouble moving to a place of pure joy, verses 5-6 is there to help with
that.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when
you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not
expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Go to the throne of grace. Tell your Abba Father all that’s
in your heart and ask Him to help you find your way from confusion, possibly rebellion,
and panic to that place of pure joy. Ask earnestly and honestly, with tears
running down your face, if it comes to that, but ask with confidence and a trusting,
yielded heart.
Have the same mind as that of the three Hebrew boys in Daniel
3. These
young men faced being incinerated in a fiery furnace with perfect faith and
confidence in the ability of their GOD to save them. But they maintained also that if GOD chose not
to save them, they would accept His plan for their lives, glorifying Him with
their last smoke-filled breath, and do so with JOY.
Why? Because they believed in the wisdom and faithfulness of
GOD to work even that horrific situation for their good (Romans
8:28) and He did so miraculously. They were thrown into the fiery furnace,
but the Son of GOD got into the fire with them to protect them. They came out
of it unharmed with not even the smell of some on their clothing. Not only were
they triumphant in their testing before GOD but the entire Babylonian nation now
knew that the GOD these young men served is real and He is Almighty.
No matter the turmoil that’s raging about you, your GOD and
Father is the same reigning LORD and King today as He was during the life-time
of the Hebrew boys. He’s with you too wherever you are in these raging and
roiling currents called life.
If believers ever needed this reminder, it's NOW!
Prayer: Mighty GOD and Father, these are scary times. But You
are Omnipotent and nothing surprises You. Our trials, sorrows, and sickness are
known to You and You hear the deep cries of our hearts, individually and as
Nations. Please give us wisdom, strength, and courage to trust You and obey Your
Word and Your will for our lives with pure joy. Your eyes are always
on us. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you to WHOM all glory, dominion, and
power belong forever and ever. In JESUS Name we pray. Amen.
Always
by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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