Submit Yourselves to God

"Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourself before the Lord, and will lift you up."
-  James 4:7-10

In the NIV chapter four in the book of James is entitled, Submit Yourselves to God.  The footnotes for verses 7-10 state, "These verses contain ten commands, each of which is so stated in Greek that it calls for immediate action in rooting out the sinful attitude of pride."
If we count the ten commands we have:  submit, resist the devil, come near to God, purify yourselves, grieve, mourn, wail, change laughter into mourning, change joy into gloom and humble yourself.
Some of these sound much easier then others.  Submitting, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, purifying yourself and humbling yourself are commands I think we are all pretty familiar with hearing.  But the others:  grieve, mourn, wail, laughter into mourning and change joy into gloom.  These sound pretty depressing.
The point James is trying to make here is not that God wants us to be depressed, said and crying all the time.  That would be a horrible life.  But what he is trying to say is we need to be willing to do anything it takes in order to live the life God wants us to live.  It will be difficult and sometimes painful to change our ways but in the end it is all worth it.  James shows that by also stating in this verse what when we come near to God he will come near to us and when we humble ourselves, God will lift us up.  That is good news, God cares and wants us to have joyful lives but we have to rid ourselves of all the garbage in order to really enjoy all he has for us.

Thought for the Day:  Are you willing to do whatever necessary in order to experience God fully and discover his plan for you?

The Tongue...

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and curing.  My brothers, this should not be."
-  James 3:7-10

Such truth is spoken here.  It is amazing the damage that can be done with just our words.  James talks about the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  When I think about this, I see how it is true.  One one hand we praise God and on the other we gossip and talk about someone else.  On the one hand we pray and thank God and on the other we discourage and tear down others.  In verse 10, James says this should not be.  No, it should not be.  So, what am I going to do about it.  How am I going to purposefully focus on what comes out of my mouth?  Be aware and think more before I speak.  If I am to emulate Christ, I need to be in the habit of continually taming my tongue.

Thought for the Day:  Do my words encourage others or tear them down?

Joy in Trials

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
-  James 1:2-4

I have read this verse so many times and have to continue to remind myself that when I am under trials that I must persevere.  We will be tested, we will have trials and how are we going to get to the other side.  Are we going to worry, complain, bring others down with us or are we going to take the situation and choose to look at it differently.  Trials lead to testing of faith which can lead to perseverance which can complete and mature us.  Will be allow for the whole process or stop in the beginning or middle when the trial comes and our faith is tested?

Thought for the Day:  Can we look at our trials as a way to grow and mature? 
 

New book

Very excited about reading the book of James.  I have been reading 1 and 2 Corinthians which have been wonderful but I have always loved the book of James.  It is challenging and gives great insight into how to live our lives.

Just a little history lesson. The book of James was not written by Jesus disciple James but rather his brother.  I thought this was interesting.

If you haven't read James or it has been a while, I would encourage you to read it.

Strength in Weakness

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-  2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Paul was sharing with the Corinthian church some of his experiences.  He shared that to keep from being conceited he was given a thorn in his side, a messenger from Satan.  The verse above goes on to explain how he pleaded with God to take it from him.

Paul was going through a hard time.  I mean he pleaded with God to take the thorn from his side.  I don't know about you but when I think of pleading, I think there has to be a pretty extreme reason why you are pleading.  Pleading is not something you see every day or ever really ever want to do.  You see God did not answer his prayer in the way maybe Paul had expected, but he did answer.  God told Paul that God's power was sufficient enough and that God's power would be made perfect in Paul's weakness.  Again probably not the answer Paul wanted.  But Paul accepts this answer.  He even embraces it stating that he will boast in his weakness so that Christ's power would rest on him.  What a thought to accept what God had for us even when difficult because it brings power to God, and not complain but even be glad.  I have to say Paul had faith, he believed what God said was true and embraced what could come out of his weakness even though it was a painful experience.

Thought for the Day:  Do I accept that His grace is enough even in the most difficult circumstances?  

Plans

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed...In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
- Proverbs 16:3+9

Commit to the Lord your plans making sure its in accordance with God's and you will succeed.  We can make plans and say we commit everything to God but if we are leaning on ourselves and what we think is right, it may not turn out like this verse says.  Context is key.  Its the Lords plans we need to follow and committing to that brings success and I believe happiness.

Thought for the day:  Are you committing to the Lord whatever you do, or are you focused on your own plans?

God's Power with Our Action

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5


Paul gives a great reminder that we are not a part of this world.  We live here but should not live like this is our permeant home.  Once again I am amazed at the awesome power that God has given us to do what he has called us to.  He gives us weapons to fight with that can demolish strongholds.  The second part of the verse though shows that there is also action.  It talks of taking responsibility and demolishing anything that sets its self up against the knowledge of God and taking captive every thought.  The weapons are no good if there is no action.  If you are not willing to do what is necessary to use them, they wont protect you.  Just as a swordsman needs to practice so do.  Taking out thoughts captive is not a one time thing, it is a lifetime of action.


Thought for the day:  Am I putting my life into action and practicing taking my thoughts captive in order to use the weapons God has given me for this world?

Giving Generously

"Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work....You will be rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion"
2 Corinthians 9:6-8+11

In reality this whole chapter is great.  Paul shares how the Corinthian church has been eagerly serving and ready to give.  He shares how God blesses this attitude.

It is always amazing to me how quickly I am able to forget what life is all about.  How easily I forget that all I have is not mine but God's and how willing he is to bless when I remember this truth.  Why is it so difficult to remember to be generous when we have the knowledge that, God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work?  It seems pretty ridiculous to think otherwise.

Thought for the day:  "You will be rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion" 
                                    - 2 Corinthians 9:11
Not rich for my glory but for the glory of God!

Prosperity

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand if the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tress planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf doe snot wither.  Whatever he does prospers."
- Psalm 1:1-3

I have heard and read this verse countless times and could even recite it.  Without rushing through and really taking a look at what its saying, gives perspective.  Its a good reminded to delight in the law of the Lord (Bible) and mediate on it day and night.  It even says that whatever this person does will prosper.  If you are delighting in what the Lord is telling you and doing what God called you to, how could you not prosper?

Thought for the day:  Am I delighting in God's word and being conscience of it day and night?  Do I feel I am prospering in life?  If not, why?