Most Understanding Lord, You encourage me to consider it as joy when I encounter various kinds of trials. You said facing my trial head on is important because the testing of my faith works perseverance. When perseverance is given time to work itself out in my life, I begin to see things work together for good. If I lack the wisdom required to overcome my trials, You’ve said I should seek You for my answers. In facing my struggles, I must ask for Your help without doubting and, in so doing, I will be able to reap my reward. I cannot be double minded because it inhibits the receipt of a desired outcome. I am filled with Your strength as I persevere through my trials and testing. For when I prove myself worthy of Your confidence in me, I will receive the desires of my heart. It has become clear to me that I should never accuse You of testing me because, when I am tempted, I am drawn away by my own lust.
I understand that You are the source of every good and perfect gift that comes into my life. It is You who gave me life. By following Your example and teachings, I can reap the blessings You intend for me to receive. Teach me how to be quick to hear and slow to answer. In so doing, I will escape situations where I wish I could take back the things I said. When I can subdue evil and put away selfishness from my life, I will be able to walk in Your righteousness and absorb the truth contained in Your words. I want to become a doer of Your words. I want to put my faith into action so I can live out the life to which I have been called. When I take the time to look closely into the meaning of Your words, I will experience the freedom and experience the perseverance I need to overcome my sins and struggles. If I think of myself as religious, but do not bring myself into subjection to You then my religion is in vain.
Without doing good with my life, it is lived in vain. Being a person of faith, I must be sensitive Your expectations and the needs of others. It is my sensitivity that gets me beyond my own personal struggles into the realm of “sacrificial love.” I demonstrate the depth of my faith by the work I do. If I succumb to my circumstances my faith is weak; but if I persevere by my faith in You, I show myself to be strong. To believe in You is the highest form of praise I can give to You. For my faith put into action shows the confidence and wisdom I have gleaned from You. I know that my life will not be judged by works alone because it is my faith in You that motivates me to overcome my sins and circumstances. I must never forget that works without faith is dead. It is my faith and my reliance on You that propels me over my circumstances into victory. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
James 1:1 Consider it joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.