Christian Devotional – September 15, 2015

Read James chapter 1

VERSE:

James 1:2–Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

TRUTH:

I don’t know about you, but for me, it is difficult to put those two phrases together: pure joy and trials. The idea that I could look at the difficult and trying times of my life and be the most joyful that I can possibly think of, is a concept that is foreign to our way of thinking. Often we spend time having pity parties and woe-is-me thinking. We don’t look at trials as an opportunity for joy. However, God’s Word indicates that trials are a reason for joy. We are to look at our situation from God’s perspective and to see how He views things. To Him, anything that makes us more like Christ is a reason to celebrate and, as we’ll see tomorrow, trials help mold us into the image of Christ.

RESPONSE:

Father, I will consider it joy to face trials. I do not need to understand why things are happening, but I will make a choice to trust You and to know that Your hand is in the experiences I go through. Keep my mind steadfast and focused on You, so that I may see nothing but joy.