MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS, 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
(James 1:2-4).
Have you ever wondered what makes your trials so unbearable? Is it the words someone spoke? Is it the actions you or someone did? Is it your current circumstances that are not working out? Or is it the CONCLUSIONS about these words, actions, and circumstances that make these trials seem so bad?
BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER
(Romans 12:12).
To be patient means “to be able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people.”
I bless you to count it pure joy whenever your conclusions cause you to want to run away, give up, hide somewhere, or blame someone for the things that are not working out in your life. Understand that these conclusions provide the opportunity to know the Truth about yourself, others, and God; but, you need to be PATIENT. In order to know the Truth, you need to remain calm and submit your CONCLUSIONS about your circumstances to the Lord Jesus. He will tell you the Truth…and His Truth will produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in your heart.
ENDURE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE
(Hebrews 12:7).
Be encouraged that Patience is something intrinsically valuable to God. It is while you are calmly submitting your CONCLUSIONS to Him that He has the opportunity to produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in your life, so you may be perfect and complete.
NO DISCIPLINE SEEMS PLEASANT AT THE TIME, BUT PAINFUL. LATER ON, HOWEVER, IT PRODUCES A HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT
(Hebrews 12:11).
Which conclusions are you facing right now that might serve as an opportunity for God to produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in your life?
PRAYER: My Lord, I submit my CONCLUSIONS about the words people spoke to me and about the deeds people did against me, to You. Help me to understand that I cannot run away from my own CONCLUSIONS that live in my own mind, because they will follow me wherever I go. Use these conclusions to produce a harvest of Righteousness and Peace in my heart, Lord God—to make me perfect and complete, in the midst of my trials
Maintain an Awareness
The defense mechanism of blaming has been with us since the beginning of time.