Tonight we studied James. It was really interesting because I've never read anything from james before. It was all about what a relationship in christ should look like and how to handle hardships. It seems like the last few weeks the campaigner lessons have gone along perfectly with the things that are going on in my life. I love the way the lord works. Today he put these passages from James on my heart:
" Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that 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."
- James 1:2-4 from the message
I can learn from this passage that instead of wondering what I've done wrong I need to consider the trials I go through as a gift from the lord. Instead of putting myself down for not handling things right, I need to embrace the trials I'm given, for they are blessings from the lord. I need to rely on him to get me through the struggles in my life for that will make me stronger. And I know that the reason I'm put through struggles is so I can grow stronger from them.
Take away: I take away from this passage that I need to embrace the trials that I will undoubtedly go through and face them with the lord by my side, because that's how I will grow from them. I've been trying to handle things on my own lately, but that's just not going to work. If I want to learn from these experiences then I need to embrace them as gifts with Christ by my side instead of trying to do it on my own.
"When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it."
- James 1:9&10 from the message
From verse the first of this passage I see that we should rejoice in everyone's successes in the trials they are put through, for I brings them closer to the lord. But we should not get caught up in prosperity, which is what we all tend to do, for prosperity is short lived.
From the lesson tonight I took away that I need to rely on the lord and not myself. See, I've known this for years, but it was so great how this was in the campaigner lesson when it's something I really need to hear and be reminded of.
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