"We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, but for the wisdom to make the right use of it." (Matthew Henry). Listen to people's prayer requests---isn't the majority of petitions for God to do something to remove the hurdle, change what's happening. Maybe we should be focusing on finding Wisdom from Above--James 1:5, Ask God, Who gives generously, and He will answer. Stable. Constant. James 1:17 - Our Father doesn't change like shifting shadows.
Count it Joy. I remember studying how this verb "count" was like an accounting term. I had a rough day with circumstances today. Rough week. Rough month. Rough year. Rough life. Okay, I just had to get that out. But as I sat in a chair for 5 hours attempting to fix a dilemma, God brought to my mind to remember His Goodness and not panic. Count it up like one, two, three, four. Never a checklist but a heart thing. And ask for Wisdom from Above to see this trial through.
And be a "doer of the Word, not hearers only," James 1:22, so you don't deceive yourself from your heart. Make no Mistake ---- Not about a checklist, all about matters of the heart.
Look at Elijah, right before being taken up into heaven. "If I am a man of God, let fire fall down." 2 Kings 1:13 And it did!~ Elijah had no way of knowing but trusting. Prophets were killed if their prophecies weren't correct. Elijah was so real to me---running from God saying please let me die! Running straight back to the arms of his God! This time, Elijah is willing to die for God, not for himself.
Oh, where IS the LORD, the God of Elijah? 2 Kings 2:14.
"Let us take care, in times of trial, that Patience, not Passion, is set to work in us." Matthew Henry
Do you think James might have had a double portion of the Lord's Spirit similar to Elisha? He probably had more time with Jesus than any other writer of the New Testament, if it is true that the James here is the brother of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteEither way, his wisdom is so sound and applicable. This one chapter holds so many keys to pleasing God, and what is not the road to righteousness (v. 19), what is the secret to joyful living (vv. 2-5), to pleasing the Lord with our undefiled religion. (vv. 19-27)
And a sweet reminder: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
In Him, there is no variation or shadow. He is our Constant. Our One Thing we can always count on to remain steady, the same, true.
And that single attribute of our Lord anchors me.
Beth Moore taught us in the study on James that this James was indeed the half brother of Jesus. He was the head of the church in Jerusalem. She thinks that James is the oldest book in the NT. It is a great study. I highly recommend it. I got my toes stepped on quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful thought Annette, that Jesus being our constant,unwavering friend and brother is the attribute that that attribute anchors you. HE is faithful and His mercies are new each morning and He has promised to never, never leave us. He is true to His Word.