James 1:4-8 --A Prayer

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature⁹ and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,¹⁰ who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.¹¹ 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,¹² because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man,¹³ unstable¹⁴ in all he does.  James 1:4-8

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  Psalm 23:1

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Lord, I believe this is what you mean when you say “mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”  It’s when I can say “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” And I’m not just saying words but I’m saying what is true for me because I fully trust you.  I know that it’s the many trials that come that test my faith to see if I’m there yet—where I can really say “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”  It’s the trials that test my faith and it’s then that I can hear you asking “do you believe I am a good Shepherd and that I can and I will watch over you and take good care of you?”  It’s then that I so often say “I do believe; help my unbelief”.  Over and over I see how the trials test my faith by revealing areas of unbelief in my heart that I didn’t realize were there.  As you give me the strength to persevere, I always find that you also strengthen my faith to trust you as my Shepherd.  You are so patient with me!  You are such a great Teacher!  You always give me opportunities to put my newly strengthened faith in action as I make my way through the trials.  I always need your wisdom to know how to do that; thank you that you give it generously without finding fault with me for asking.

Thank you, my good Shepherd, that you strengthen me so I can persevere through the trials that come. 

      Thank you that you lovingly and gently expose and help me with any unbelief in my heart. 

             Thank you that you give me wisdom to know how to put my faith into action in times of trials! 

                    You are a good Shepherd!

                           Amen and Amen!

Perseverance

 Looking at James 1:2-4---
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Perseverance (NIV), patience (KJV), hypomonē--Greek

The Strong's definition:

1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance

a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

b) patiently, and steadfastly

2) a patient, steadfast waiting for

3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

When facing trials, the joy comes in knowing what they will produce if I yield to what God wants to work in me through them.  The joy doesn't come from the trials, it comes from what they produce--like the "joy" of childbirth.  The joy comes not from the pain but from what will come after the pain.  We're being "conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom. 8:29) who "for the joy set before him endured the cross." (Heb. 12:2)

Thank you, Lord, that you  give me the strength to endure trials and I know that you will use them in my life so that I may be mature and complete--not lacking anything.  Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, Jesus, and the joy set before me.

James 1--a few thoughts

James 1—

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,⁶ 3 because you know that the testing of your faith⁷ develops perseverance.⁸ 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature⁹ and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

You sympathized with those in prison¹ and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.  Hebrews 10:34

Rejoice and be glad,¹ because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:12

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace¹ for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

In this you greatly rejoice,¹ though now for a little while² you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  1Peter 1:6

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire¹--may be proved genuine² and may result in praise, glory and honor³ when Jesus Christ is revealed.  1Peter 1:7

You need to persevere¹ so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  Heb. 10:36

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“mature”:

 …until we all reach unity¹ in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God² and become mature,³ attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:13

But solid food is for the mature,¹ who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.  Heb 5:14

Therefore let us leave¹ the elementary teachings² about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^a3 and of faith in God,  Heb 6:1

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Consider it joy whenever you face trials of many kinds

because the testing of your faith⁷ develops perseverance

The end result= maturity—complete, not lacking in anything

Joyfully accept loss of possessions—knowing you have better and lasting possessions

When suffering persecution—

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven

Discipline, though painful, produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Summary—what we gain through trials:

Perseverance

Maturity (attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ)

Completeness

No more lack

Lasting possessions

Great reward in heaven

Righteousness and peace

Genuine faith-- proved by trials/testing

Summary—what we do:

·          Consider it joy with an eye on the goal—perseverance’s finished work that produces maturity & completeness

·          Joyfully accept loss of the material focusing on the lasting possessions

·          Rejoice and be glad because a great reward awaits us in heaven—keep focused on the greatness of heaven not the greatness of the trial

·          Focus on the purpose and product of the discipline not the pain and pity (poor me)

Difficult Relationships--some scriptures

Expect God to do even beyond what you could imagine

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Put your hope and expectation in God alone                                                                                                

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.

    ⁶He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.
    ⁷With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!
    ⁸Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!  Psalm 62:5-8 AMP

You have strength for all things—in Christ!

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].  Philippians 4:13 AMP

Put on the full armor of God                                                                                                                                   
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
    ¹¹Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
    ¹²For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
    ¹³Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
    ¹⁴Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
    ¹⁵And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the ^[a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness ^[b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
    ¹⁶Lift up over all the [covering] shield of ^[c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
    ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit ^[d]wields, which is the Word of God.
    ¹⁸Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.  Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP

After you have suffered a little while God will make you what you ought to be                                     
 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [^[f]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
    ⁹Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (^[g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
    ¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
    ¹¹To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).  1Peter 5:8-11

Keep drawing near to God and loving Him; out of that love will flow good things                                  
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’        Matthew 22:37-39

He has poured out his love in your heart                                                                                                         
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  Romans 5:5

Walking in love is spiritual warfare too                                                                                                    
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
    ⁵It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
    ⁶It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
    ⁷Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
    ⁸Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].  1Corinthians 13;4-8

Be Dressed for Success                                                                                                                                
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
    ¹³Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
    ¹⁴And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
    ¹⁵And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:12-15 AMP

Watch what you allow in your mind.  When a thought comes knocking on your door, Philippians 4:8 it!                                                                                                                                                                    
 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].  Philippians 4:8 AMP

Watch what you meditate on                                                                                                                         
May the words of my mouth  and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,  O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

Watch what you allow to come out of your mouth—that it will be a blessing and give grace                                                   
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.  Ephesians 4:29
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.  Colossians 4:6 NASB

A prayer for your mouth and your mind                                                                                                                   
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer
.
When anxiety is great and you feel like you’re slipping, His love is there to support you                        
 When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.   ¹⁹In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul! Psalm 94:18-19

When you don’t feel like being kind to the difficult person in your life                                               
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men  Colossians 3;23

Do it (be kind) because you love Jesus                                                                                                                          
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands  John 14:23

Depression--Some Prayer Helps

I say “YES” to Jesus! And

I say “NO!” to Satan!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7

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By the power of the Holy Spirit living in me, I am standing firm against the devil and I am strong in my faith because Jesus strengthens me!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 

1Peter 5:8-9 NLT

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The Lord is my strength! 

He has given me victory! 

I will trust Him! 

I will not be afraid!

See, God has come to save me.
      I will trust in him and not be afraid.
   The LORD GOD is my strength and my song;
      he has given me victory. 

Isaiah 12:2 NLT

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Jesus was wounded for me.  By His wounds I am healed!

Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:4-5

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Jesus, I know that you will never leave me! You will not leave me helpless.  Thank you!

[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
    ⁶So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified].  Heb. 13:5-6 AMP

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My foot is slipping!  Open my eyes to see how you are supporting me with your love, Jesus.

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
   your love, O LORD, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
   your consolation brought joy to my soul.  Psalm 94:18-19

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I know that you uphold me with your strong right hand!  Thank you that you won’t let go of me!

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:9-10

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Even though I feel so depressed right now, Lord, I will take comfort in knowing that you know the path where I walk and you care.  You see me and you hear me.

When my spirit grows faint within me,
   it is you who know my way.
In the path where I walk… Psalm 142:3

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I’m putting on that garment of praise by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus, take away the spirit of despair.

Jesus came to:  …comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.  Isaiah 61:2-3

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I will put my hope in God—no matter how I feel!

Why am I discouraged?
      Why is my heart so sad?
   I will put my hope in God!
      I will praise him again—
      my Savior and my God!  Psalm 43:5 NLT

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The Lord is my light!  He is able to push away my darkness!

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
      so why should I be afraid?
   The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
      so why should I tremble? 

Psalm 27:1 NLT

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God, you turn my darkness into light!  Thank you!

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.  Psalm 18:28

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You, God, are able to pierce through my darkness and bring light to my life!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
      I can never get away from your presence!
 ⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there;
      if I go down to the grave, you are there.
 ⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning,
      if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
      and your strength will support me.
 ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me
      and the light around me to become night—
    ¹² but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
   To you the night shines as bright as day.
      Darkness and light are the same to you. Psalm 139:7-12 NLT

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I know my life matters because you created me with care—with a plan and a purpose! 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. ¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  ¹⁶ You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
 ¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!  ¹⁸ I can’t even count them;  they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!  Psalm 139:13-18 NLT

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I know you love me Lord and your love is everlasting!

… I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.  Jeremiah 31:3

A Prayer in Trying Times...

In trying times—

Are you feeling helpless and hopeless, weary from one difficulty after another that has left you emotionally and physically drained and asking

“God, where are you? 

How much longer will this last? 

Why is this happening?”

You know in your head that God cares-- but it just doesn’t feel like it right now.  So often the intensity of our trials seems to increase to the point where we feel that we just can’t go on before a breakthrough or some kind of relief comes.  No matter how you feel right now, God has not abandoned you!

A Prayer in Desperate Times

O Lord, I want what I know is true about you and your concern and care for me—to sink deep into my heart!  I want to be like the psalmist who ran to you in his desperate time.  So I declare—

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; rescue me and deliver me—turn your ear to me and save me!  Be my rock of refuge while so much all around me feels so shaky.  You are my safe place—my fortress!  Oh God, come quickly, O my God, to help me! 

No matter how I feel right now, I commit to be like the psalmist and say—

As for me, I will always have hope! 

I will praise you more and more! 

I will talk about your mighty acts not my long list of troubles. 

I will talk about your goodness and the great things you have done—not the badness of my circumstances. 

I will keep my eyes fixed on you, Jesus, not on my problems.   

Though it feels impossible to do that, I know that nothing is impossible with you and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!  Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again!  As I wait upon you and put my hope in you, I know that you will renew my strength.   Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me—a willing spirit to endure and keep trusting you and putting my hope in you and not a desired outcome.  Help me to remember to tell others of the great things you have done and of your goodness.  I want to be an overcomer!  You said that overcomers overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.  I want these tests and trials to become my testimony even before I see any breakthrough!  I declare that I am an overcomer!  Thank you, Jesus, that you shed your blood in love for me and that you have given me a testimony!  I praise you, Lord!  I love you, Lord!  You are good—all the time!  Amen and Amen!

Psalm 71

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. 9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him." 12 Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed. 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

Luke 1:37 (AMP) 

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.