This week, I’ve had a few of what I call “mini trials”. I
titled the trials of this week as such because when adversity (a condition marked by misfortune,
calamity, or distress) comes I have a “placement test” as I
quickly assess the situation and assign it properly. In other words, is this a big deal or is this not a big deal?
For example:
- Is anyone in or headed to the morgue? No. Praise God! Proceed to step two.
- Is anyone in or headed to the emergency room or operating room? No. Glory to God! Proceed to step three.
- Are we all (meaning my immediate family), together? In other words, is my family unit still intact (no affair, not separated by natural disaster, fire, robbery, no one is missing, etc.). Yes. Thank You Jesus! Proceed to step four.
- Are we all safe? Yes. Hallelujah! Proceed to step five.
- Since we made it to step five, the current adversity is assigned the title of a mini trial; therefore, Psalm 34:19. The only thing I have to do is Matthew 6:33 and 1 Timothy 6:12. He has always and will always do all the rest! Psalm 136!
Every answer I need to every
problem I face is found in His Holy Word. His Word is ALIVE! His Word is
ACTIVE! His Word changes everything! His Word is absolute truth! This morning, I grabbed my ipad
to do my daily bible reading and even though when I was finished with my bible
reading last night, I was not in James…today, when I opened up my bible, I was
in James. I was going to go to Proverbs and Psalms but I got a check in my
spirit to read James. Let’s just see what God has to say to us through James today.
Verily, verily I say unto
you! Ok…that’s not James, that’s me! As you can tell, I’m very excited today!
God is so good to me!
The title of the scripture
and verse I was about to read was entitled, “Profiting from Trials”. I had to
do a throw my head back belly laugh! I was so encouraged!
I placed emphasis on the
following, please read slowly and absorb every critical word of this passage!
Consider
it wholly joyful, (please note it does not say partial joy) my brethren, whenever (please note it does not say,
if ever) you (please note that does not say everyone but you) are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various
temptations. Be assured and understand
that the trial and proving of your faith
bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance
and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough
work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed [with no
defects], lacking in nothing. If
any of you is deficient in wisdom, let
him ask of the giving God [Who
gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or
faultfinding, and it will be given
him. Only it must be in faith that he
asks with no wavering (no
hesitating, no doubting). For the one
who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is
like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed
by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the
Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious,
irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain
about everything [he thinks,
feels, decides]. Let the brother in humble
circumstances glory in his
elevation [as a Christian, called to
the true riches and to be an heir of God], And the rich
[person ought to glory] in being humbled
[by being shown his human frailty],
because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun comes up
with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its
beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his
pursuits. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when
he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love
Him. (James 2:12)
GLORY to GOD!
In May of 2008, I heard a life changing message taught by
special speaker Dennis Burke at Walk on Water Faith Church in Osage Beach,
Missouri (www.faithman.org) He taught on Mark 4:17. Why do adversities come?
Adversities come for the Word’s sake. Adversity doesn’t come just to jack up
our day; although, if our day gets jacked up it is a side benefit for the enemy. Adversity
comes in an attempt to steal the Word.
We must have root! We must count it all joy and seek Him!
Yesterday on Facebook I saw this post by Jesse Duplantis, “What you focus on determines what you
live with! So, are you focusing on God or your circumstances?”
As for me and my house, I
focus on God!
As for me and my house, circumstance can take a long walk off a
short bridge!
What is your focus today?
How can you take His Word and change your circumstance
today?
Count it all joy!
