Faith Journey

James 1:9-11

The Story: God cannot build our character, develop patience, without our cooperation. It is the submitted spirit and attitude that God. Take Jonah as a great example. God wanted Jonah to go to Ninevah to preach the gospel but Jonah had his own ideas.  With a hardened heart he ran the other direction.  Only when surrender came was God able to use him and build into his life and accomplish what God had intended. It was a lesson for Jonah and the people of Ninevah.

The surrendered, humble heart is what God is looking for. He is able to use the trials in our lives to bring about the true joy that awaits the believer but a humble heart precedes all that.

That is his point in James 1:9. Materially poor believers should derive joy from focusing their thinking on their spiritual riches.  And in James 1:10, materially wealthy should remember that riches are temporary and that one’s real condition before God is a very humble one.

The Key Truth: Giving Away My Life - Romans 12:1. I give away my life to fulfill God’s purposes.

Today's Application: A difficult stage of maturing is weaning. Sometimes God has to wean His children away from their childish toys and immature attitudes (Psalm 131). The trials of our faith are like God's ironing.  When the heat of trials are applied to our lives the wrinkles of spiritual immaturity begin to be smoothed out.  Listen to God in the midst of your trial today.

Conversation: What is the greatest area in your life that requires patience? How might God be using this area to develop maturity in your life?