The Day
James 1:2-4,12:
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. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Every trial in our lives is allowed for two purposes. The first is to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ, which is the fruit of the Spirit. The second is to bring us to a place of maturity where He can trust us with more authority to do the works that He did, which are through the gifts of the Spirit. Therefore, we must seize our trials as James encourages, counting them as joy, because they always lead to the dawn\’s light. We also have the great promise in 1 Cor 10:13:
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
We are also assured that there is a way of escape with every trial. The way of escape is always the same, and that is the cross. If we would go to the cross and die to ourselves, our own ambitions, and the cares of this world, which are usually the roots of our trials, we would immediately find a peace that goes beyond human understanding. We are called to be dead to this world (see Gal 6:14). What can the world do to a dead man? It is impossible for a dead man to feel rejected, abused, taken advantage of, or be concerned with loss. If we would go to the cross daily with all that we are and have, we would be the freest people the world has ever seen.
If we would go to the cross and die to our own interests every day, we would also be free to love without reservation. Love that is not self-centered is not controlled by the fear of pain or loss. Neither does this love try to control the object of our love.
Just as there could be no resurrection without there first being a death; there can be no victory without a battle. Like the tests we take in school to go on to higher levels, every test we endure in our lives is so we can go on to higher levels of maturity in the Lord. We should see every test as a great opportunity. The greater the test, the greater the opportunity.
- Pray that God will forgive believers in Nigeria the sin of not praying to know the mind of God but instead are engaged in selfish debates over candidates.
- Pray for God to raise true kingdom citizens with passion for governance, to pursue political offices, strategic media business ventures, develop educational institutions, technocratic positions and other key decision making and mind molding positions. (Dan 6:1-3)
- Pray that the God of Heaven will prosper His people physically and spiritually so they will arise and build the nation according to His patterns. (Neh. 2:20; Heb 8:5)
- Pray that the Father will bless you, your marriage, and your family, the work of your hands, ministry, nation and continent with the relevant fruitfulness for this month
(Rev 22:2).