Yesterday was the presidential election. Many have voiced their opinions on who they think should be elected. It honestly doesn't matter who is the next President of the United State of America. God has a big plan for the whole world and His plan won't be swayed by who is in office.
This has been a strange year. We had a pandemic around the world, Africa had locusts so bad in swarms that it destroyed much of their crops and vegetation, wildfires have destroyed acres and acres of land and burned many homes along with people's hopes and dreams, tropical storms/hurricanes/tornadoes have ripped apart Louisiana and many neighboring states along the border. Thousands and thousand of people have gone without power, lost food, and had damage to their property and vehicles, created hardships in an already brutal year.
On Sunday, kids in my small group shared about their feelings of having to wear a mask all the time, increased restriction of shelter and place orders, and their anger over how life has changed with no end in sight. I gave them scriptures to strengthen them and empower them to walk victoriously this week and they really responded well.
Tonight as I was reading in James I felt compelled to share chapter 1verses 2-8 in hopes that it may encourage someone reading my blog. In the familiar passage we are told to count it all joy when we fall into many temptations. They joy is not that we have so many temptations but it is found in knowing that when our faith is tried, it develops the spiritual fruit of patience. It is important to allow patience to develop so that we will be complete and not want for anything. We don't always know how to do this so verse 5 tells us that if any of us lack wisdom; we should ask God and He gives to everyone generously without condemnation and we must have faith and not change our minds like a wave tossed with the wind. The Bible says that person should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. Someone who cannot make up their mind if they trust the Lord or not is unstable in everything they do.
God is proven faithful in keeping His word. The Bible tells us He is not a man that He should lie. Make up your mind to trust Him. He is trustworthy. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is in control and His children are in His loving care no matter how bad the world gets or how dark the days, He is proven faithful. Trust and believe He is working all things together for our good and His glory.
James 1:2-8
2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations:
3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience
4) But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
