Wednesday 7 Feb 2018

February 7: James 1:2-6

Key Verse: James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Devotion:
One of the biggest questions we all face in our Christian lives is “why does it happen to me”. When we become Christians, we like to think our lives are going to change and that we will no longer be bothered by the bad things in this world. Well, truth be told, the opposite is more likely to happen – the difference being we now have Christ on our side so we will no longer loose the war! We may give in to the minor skirmishes, but we will not lose the war. We will still give way to some temptations along the way because we are still the same human and still living in the same word, but we can fight those temptations if we are willing to ask for help.

The more we are willing to learn to fight against the temptations, the more we will grow stronger against them. There is nothing like on the job training to gain the most experience. No matter how much reading you do, there will always be a time when you have to put that knowledge into action... but don't let me persuade you from the reading! In reality, you have to know how to handle a situation before you can handle it; which may sound like a chicken and egg conundrum. We don't all like to lose hope by failing in situations before figuring out how to win!

God is willing and able to help you to understand how to get the most out of life. He is willing and able to help you avoid certain situations in life. He is willing and able to help you to grow stronger so you can stand up to situations... but each time, you are the one who has to make the first move to start the ball rolling. You are the one who has to stand up to the world for the first time and ask God for help to keep you on your feet. Do not be afraid, He has promised us He will never leave us! Never doubt His love for us, His power, His faith. Do not doubt your faith otherwise you will be tripping yourself up!

Points to Ponder:
Do you think someone else is in control of your life?

Have you ever realised that God is the one who is in control?