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Christian Devotional – September 21, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:8–Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. TRUTH: Yesterday’s devotion (here) discussed how someone becomes the person that this verse is talking about and states that he or she shouldn’t expect to receive anything from God. This verse concludes this paragraph and goes on to indicate that the person not only shouldn’t expect to receive anything from God, but that they also shouldn’t expect to receive much from man either. The person who needs wisdom, asks God, and doesn’t expect God to answer is characterized here as someone who is double-minded and unstable. Not only will they not receive anything…
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Christian Devotional – September 20, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:7–That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. TRUTH: Who is “that person”? According to the verses before this one, “that person” is one who lacks wisdom, asks God, and yet doubts that God will provide. Unfortunately, “that person” has a need that can only be met by God, but when they ask, they don’t really expect to receive anything from God. We often do the exact same thing. We know that God has the answer to the situations that we face, we come to Him and ask Him to help and intervene, but we doubt that He really cares or…
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Christian Devotional – September 19, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:6–But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. TRUTH: When we come to God in prayer and ask Him to give us guidance and wisdom in situations, do we actually believe that He will do it? Do we wait to act until we receive His wisdom and direction in a situation. If we don’t then we are doubting that God will work and move in us. We’re doubting that God will answer our prayers. When we doubt, we aren’t grounded in the truth of…
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Christian Devotional – September 18, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:5–If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. TRUTH: For me, it’s not so much “if” I lack wisdom, it more “when” I lack wisdom. Yet, God knows and understands that I am going to feel overwhelmed and not know what to do in many circumstances throughout my day. He will generously give to all who ask of Him, so as I experience moments when I don’t know what to do, I have confidence that I can come to the Father and ask Him and not only…
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Christian Devotional – September 17, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:4–Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. TRUTH: You’ve met those people that just seem immature, right? This verse indicates that people’s ability to persevere through difficult times is a direct reflection of their maturity. People who have not been able to be consistent and persevere through hard times do not have the maturity that can be found in those who have been able to hang in there during the tough times. Going through difficulty changes people and helps to shape them into the people that have the correct perspective on life and on God.…
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Christian Devotional – September 16, 2015
Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:3–because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. TRUTH: So from yesterday, knowing that we should consider trials and testing as joyful occasions, the question become “why?” Well, according to this verse, testing produces perseverance. How do we stay consistent and focused living out the day by day Christian life? When we experience testing, then we see God’s faithfulness in all that we do and we realize that we can trust in Him to see us through, which in turn gives us greater confidence to place our faith in Him in the future. Our challenges remind us to turn to God…
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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…
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Christian Devotional – September 14, 2015
We’re going to take the next several months and go verse by verse through the book of James, instead of just taking one verse per chapter. There’s so much in this wonderful book and I want to spend some time focusing on it! I still encourage you to read the entire chapter to keep things in perspective. Read James chapter 1 VERSE: James 1:1–James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. TRUTH: James opens up this book with a quick description of himself. He is a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are…
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Christian Devotional – September 10, 2013
VERSE: James 5:9–Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door! TRUTH: Our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will not always do exactly what we think they should. God speaks to each of us in different ways and sometimes with different timing and we need to be sensitive to that. We must be careful not to grumble or complain against them for they are our family and fellow workers in Christ. We can take our concerns to God and, under His leadership, take them directly to that brother or sister, but don’t be spreading stories of complaining to…
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Christian Devotional – September 9, 2013
VERSE: James 4:10–Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. TRUTH: It sounds so backward from what we are told by the world, yet we are to humble ourselves to others and allow God to be the One who lifts us up. If we go around boasting of our abilities, then those will be the only accolades we receive and will not bring honor and glory to God. However, if we are humble and patient, God will take responsibility for lifting us up at the proper time and in the proper way so that He will receive all the honor and praise for what He has done…