Daily Reading 2-13-17
James 1:2-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
In our physical fitness training, the goal is to increase our endurance for activity. In our faith training, the goal is to allow endurance to grow our faith from the measure God gave us originally to what it can be with the work of the Spirit. Faith and endurance must grow. “Troubles” or perhaps another word would be “struggles” is what makes our endurance level grow. If we never faced a “struggle” our faith would not be necessary; it would never be stretched to grow. Most of the time we want to fight the struggle rather than use our endurance and faith to get beyond it, but God is faithful to call us to wisely stay the course and grow up in our faith and trust that God loves us and will make a way for us. If you are facing a struggle, today, allow endurance to do what God intends. Hold fast to your trust in His love for you!
James 1:2-8 Faith and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Prayer: Lord, help me to look at the struggles in my life differently, because I know you love me. You are the way, Jesus, so I will have my attention fixed on your provision. In Jesus’ name. Amen.