Are You Under Pressure Today?
"Under pressure, your faith-life...shows its true colors." James 1:2 MSG
It takes a long time and an incredible amount of pressure to turn a worthless piece of carbon into a valuable diamond. That's why James writes: "Consider it a sheer gift...when tests and challenges come at you from all sides...under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (vv. 2-4 MSG). Once you grasp that scriptural truth, whenever your life is interrupted by problems or circumstances you didn't anticipate, you'll begin to see God's hand at work in all of it. The truth is that you're either in a trial right now, just coming out of one, or heading toward the next one. James talks about "various trials" (v. 2 NAS); they come in every conceivable variety. Like the letters you get in your mailbox, some are addressed simply to "The Occupant." Will Rogers once read a newspaper headline that said, "Innocent Bystander Shot in New York." He quipped, "How about that? All you have to do to get shot in New York is be innocent and stand by!" That's how it is with life's trials. Just stand by--and you'll get hit. But the fact remains that it takes adversity to produce spiritual maturity. It can't come any other way. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV). Jesus was an overcomer, and because He lives in you today, you can be an overcomer too.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today
It takes a long time and an incredible amount of pressure to turn a worthless piece of carbon into a valuable diamond. That's why James writes: "Consider it a sheer gift...when tests and challenges come at you from all sides...under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (vv. 2-4 MSG). Once you grasp that scriptural truth, whenever your life is interrupted by problems or circumstances you didn't anticipate, you'll begin to see God's hand at work in all of it. The truth is that you're either in a trial right now, just coming out of one, or heading toward the next one. James talks about "various trials" (v. 2 NAS); they come in every conceivable variety. Like the letters you get in your mailbox, some are addressed simply to "The Occupant." Will Rogers once read a newspaper headline that said, "Innocent Bystander Shot in New York." He quipped, "How about that? All you have to do to get shot in New York is be innocent and stand by!" That's how it is with life's trials. Just stand by--and you'll get hit. But the fact remains that it takes adversity to produce spiritual maturity. It can't come any other way. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV). Jesus was an overcomer, and because He lives in you today, you can be an overcomer too.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today
Recent
Archive
2025
January
"Forgiving each other ...as...God forgave you."EMBRACING UNCERTAINITY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?PROBLEMS? DRAW CLOSER TO GODDON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANTPARENTING, THE BIBLE WAYHOW TO BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEMSIGNS FOLLOW FAITHWORSHIP: GIVING YOURSELF TO GODCHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND CHANGE YOUR LIFEFind Prayer PartnersHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEHOW TO GIVEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (3))WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE LORD TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
Practice Saying No To YourselfThe Best Is Yet To ComeThe Grandfather's Mistake Became The Grandson's MiracleHow To Conquer The Fear Of FailingLet's Respect Our DifferencesPass It On To OthersThrow It DownYou Are Called To Be Salt And LightExpect To "Wrestle"Use Your Gifts In Ministry To OthersKeep Trusting GodFear Is The Enemy Of GrowthChange Your RoutineYou Are Not Beyond God's ReachDon't Look At Christians, Look At ChristHave A God PerspectiveGod Uses Damaged PeopleUnderstanding The Word "Imputed"Governed By Christ's Love For UsToday Expect God's FavorGrowth Is About EnlargementKeep Praying And BelievingRefuse To Wear The LabelShake It Off, And Move ForwardWhen Others "Don't Get It"Righteousness Is A Gift, Not A Reward
March
Don't Break, Bounce Back (1)How Long Will You Live?Don't Break, Bounce Back (2)Put Away The Measuring StickKnow When To Let GoUse Your ImaginationConnect, Commit, CommunicateHow God Sees YouRearing Spiritual FruitConsult God On Your Daily To Do ListBorn To Believe (1)Born To Believe (2)Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul"Forgive Them" And Delete ItPut God Between Yourself and the FoeBe True To The ScripturesThe Kids Are Watchcng You (1)The Kids Are Watching You (2)If You're A Leader, Read ThisPrayer and Your RASLearn To Say NoYou Can Learn To LoveAlways Agree With God’s WordGive God All The GloryDon’t Let A Wall Build Up Between YouTo Be Used By GodTell Them While You Still CanYou’re Almost ThereA Ministry Of Tears“Much More” Or “Much Less” (1)
Categories
no categories