Prayer Request:
Elsie Cardinahl had a slight heart-attack on Tuesday. She is doing fine now and will be coming home soon.
Joshua Snyder had an appendectomy and is also home now.
Polly Allieo is still in the hospital after surgery also. Pray for her continued recovery.
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James began his letter by telling his readers that trials are good because they produce endurance (patience), and we need patience. Then he went on to describe what patience or endurance is. He explained that it is exhibited when one asks of God in faith, without doubting. James describes one who lacks endurance as someone who is like a wave of the sea. That man is tossed about to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine, wavering back and forth between Christianity and Judaism. God doesn't want us to be like that. He wants to develop stability in us, the ability to endure and to hang on to our faith.
Lets compare this to Hebrews 10:35-36
Hebrews 10:35-36; Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (36) For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Verse 35 admonishes us not to throw away our faith and to expect a great reward for continuing to believe God. The reason it tells us not to throw away our faith is because we need it the most when things don’t seem to be happening in the way we thought they should. If our prayer request is not yet about to be granted; that’s when our faith in God is tested.
Our faith in God will enable us to continue to pray even though we don't see the answer we would like to at that particular moment. If God tells us to continue to pray, the faith it takes to continue to pray will ultimately bring us to the place where we have faith for the answer.
I have witnessed this time and time again. At one point, I had been praying about a certain matter for many weeks. One night as I was praying about it, I sensed the Lord saying, "Ron, you no longer need to pray about this situation. Consider it resolved even though you do not see the answer right now." Because I had prayed so long about it, the next day I thought I would just remind Him of the answer He promised me. As soon as I began praying about it, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying, "Ron, I dealt with you about that already. To continue to pray about it now would be a lack of faith."
God can bring us to the place where we can practice Romans 4:17, where we can call things that are not as though they were. I fully believe that God expects us to pray things into existence. However, it does require faith. It takes stability of faith to start praying about something that does not exist, because every wind of doctrine will come against you attempting to toss you to and fro.
Fellow believers will tell you that you are crazy and that it can’t be done – but it can when God is behind it. It takes faith to pray about something that has not yet happened, and it takes faith to stop praying when God tells you to.
Our faith pays us great dividends. There is great recompense of reward with our faith, but it isn't just a matter of trying to muster great faith on our own. Our ability to continue to pray is a sign of faith. While we are in prayer, God continues to make us into that person He wants us to be. Keep in mind that in verse 36 it says, "For you have need of endurance [patience."
Right after telling us not to give up our faith, he puts the focus on us by saying, "You need endurance." This begins to tell us that in many cases the only reason we have not yet seen the answer we are waiting for is because the answer to our prayer is going to come through the development of godliness within us.
Let me ask you this; if you are praying for a better marriage – how is God going to answer that? Think about it for a moment. You are the one praying, meaning God has your attention, you recognize a problem so you begin to pray about it. If you are having a relational problem – how will that most likely be resolved? It’s by God changing the prayer. The verse does not say, They need endurance, it says you need endurance.
continued tomorrow
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Medication: A Merry Heart
More Strange Tongue Twisters
Clean clams crammed in clean cans.
Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.
I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.
Stupid superstition!
There was a fisherman named Fisher who fished for some fish in a fissure. Till a fish with a grin, pulled the fisherman in. Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.
Picky people pick Peter Pan Peanut-Butter, 'tis the peanut-butter picky people pick. from a commercial
If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?
Luke's duck likes lakes. Luke Luck licks lakes. Luke's duck licks lakes. Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes. Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes. from Dr. Seuss' Fox in Socks
Seventy seven benevolent elephants
There those thousand thinkers were thinking how did the other three thieves go through.
Santa's Short Suit Shrunk name of a children's book
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Wayne went to Wales to watch walruses.
In 'ertford, 'ereford and 'ampshire, 'urricanes 'ardly Hever 'appen.
One-one was a race horse. Two-two was one too. One-one won one race. Two-two won one too.
Eleven benevolent elephants
Celibate celebrant, celibate celebrant, celibate celebrant, ...
Willy's real rear wheel
If Pickford's packers packed a packet of crisps would the packet of crisps that Pickford's packers packed survive for two and a half years?
like the new picture and verse today, Psalms 119:105! Interestinly cool, I was repeating that scripture last nigth when praising and praying. Debbie
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