Welcome to the daily devotional we have. This is a learning process for me as I go along and I hope you can join me. I will pick a devotional on www.bible.com (feel free to go there and pick the same reading plan) and be posting the verse(s), devotional, and my own personal commentary. Feel free to leave your own commentary in the comments as I would love to read your guys thoughts. Also, I will have a video that relates to the devotional.
This devotional is titled “Grab The Red Phone!”. It is 5 days long. I use the ESV bible but feel free to use the version of your choosing.
Verses
James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Psalm 100
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Devotional
If God loves us, why do trials and temptations and difficulties come? We know that our heavenly Father could protect us from them all. But doing so would not accomplish His purposes.
Read James 1:2-4. How does James want us to view our trials? When? Looking closely at this passage, think through the progression and end result of a godly response in difficult times.
Can you recall a time when you were in a trial that seemed unbearable, but when it was over you saw an eternal result _ perhaps a real change in your strength, your peace, and your character, or similar changes in another person because of what God was doing in your life?
Yesterday I mentioned it, but today I want to emphasize that in the midst of trial, trouble, or tribulation, the best thing we can do is give thanks. We enter the gates of safety, truth, and peace when we enter God’s courts.
James counsels us to consider our trials all joy; so give thanks and praise to your God who knows you and loves you!
Take the truths of God’s love, grace, and mercy to heart and believe them! Apply them to your heart like a balm. Confess any sin of unbelief or desire for the things of the flesh or the world. They will be a snare, a lure, and a pitfall.
Five points to help you remember these truths:
1. Pray for help. (Grab the red phone!)
2. Proclaim your position IN Christ. What enemy can defeat Him? You are covered by the blood the Lamb and hidden in the strong tower of His name: God Most High, Ruler of All, King of all kings.
3. Plunge your sword. Know the Word of God and use it. Target the enemy’s lies with the truth.
4. Position yourself and stand firm in the truth.
5. Proceed forward believing that He is God, thanking Him, and trusting that He is in control.
Commentary
Trials and temptations come because we allowed sin into the world. God wants us to follow Him because we love Him. Not because He would give us a bubble of protection on Earth from bad things happening. We would be choosing Him for all the wrong reasons.
Nothing can overcome our awesome, amazing God! He is worthy of all of our praise and admiration. There is nothing satan can do that can overcome our God. This is hard to believe when we seem not alright. We feel broken inside. Just know that you can always grab the red phone by praying, just don’t make Him your last resort. Make Him your first and only choice.