James 1: 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”
Dear God,
Another beautiful morning of colours set in soft light and the beauty all around. You seem close amongst the beauty and muted harmonious sounds of the different birds.
Later the day beckons, with prayer fellowship with friends. We are learning more and more to cherish many of the promises in Your word, and the way we individually and together are directed to them by the Holy Spirit, as different needs and times, come our ways, individually and for projects placed upon our hearts.
I need You every moment on all days, but I crave time apart with You at the beginning of each day, for You to feed my soul, and lead me to evaluate my life, belief’s and actions in the affirmative or unto repentance, and then under You direction and strength You lead and strengthen me to make changes. I give praise because You supply the emotional and spiritual strength I need to make the changes (often over time) to attitudes and understanding, so that I am not left forever sad and/or deficient to cope with any situation now or in the future.
It is good that James writes of these matters, reminding me, that there really is no point wailing about any situation, and saying ‘why me and look at such and such, who seems to live a charmed life, even though they live a life that is not ideal for best health in such and such an area’. By a new infilling of the love and wisdom of the Spirit, I am reminded again, to accept these trials as opportunities to grow spiritually, and reveal Your grace in action. Sadly I acknowledge, I have not always been thus inclined, or ‘counted it all joy’ to ‘fall into various trials’ or accept them as opportunities to have my faith tested, and then in renewed awareness of Your love, grow spiritually.
However this is my deep desire, V3, 4 “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Amen
James 1: 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 him.”
Dear God,
This is another one of Your wonderful promises, because firstly we all need wisdom, whether spiritually and/or in everyday life and relationships. Secondly, there are examples of many bible characters receiving wisdom, most notably Solomon. When he had worshiped You with fervour, at the start of his reign as king over Israel, he was visited by You in the night, with the question, 2 Chronicles 1: 7 “Ask! What shall I give you?” Surprisingly he humbly asked for nothing personally, but for, V 10 “… wisdom and knowledge, that I may come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?” You commended him for his selflessness and attitude toward being the leader king of Your people, and You as James writes, “….gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given him.” As illustrated in 2 Chronicles 1: 12 “Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honour……..” And this was the case for as long as he served You singly and his whole heart. The need to give You our whole heart is covered in pertinent writing from James 1: 6-8 “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. For let not the man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
I now more fully understand why some prayers for wisdom and knowledge could not be answered, and the fault will always be with we self-focused petitioners; and never with You our God, who loves to answer all prayer, especially for wisdom and knowledge, that would be so powerful in our lives personally and when dedicated to undertaking caring interactions with others, in and out of Your fellowship.
Thank You for hearing my prayers again today!
Amen