Count it all Joy...

Is your faith being tested? Then count it all joy... Have you received an unexpected diagnosis, a pink slip, a foreclosure notice, bad or sad news from someone you love? As difficult as it is, try to remember who you are living for. If you are living for yourself, then yes, times can be tough, life can be tragic, darkness can seem to prevail, but, if you are living for the King of glory, then you can count it all joy.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:2-8

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." I don't know about you but I certainly lack wisdom. I need guidance and help for this journey and the Lord promises to give it to you if you ask in faith without any doubting. How do we ask without doubting? We spend every moment of every day reading His word, praying His word, living His word, singing His word. If we bath our lives in Him then His perfect Love will cast out our fears. And doesn't doubt come from fear?

I want to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, don't you? The hard part of that is endurance. How is your endurance?

Matthew 10:22 says, "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."

2 Timothy 2:11-13 says, "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself."

Lord, please give me the patience to endure even when times are difficult and life hurts. Please test my faith and find me faithful even as You are faithful. Help me to count it all joy, when things are good and when things are not. Please make me perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.