SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 08-17-03
My
Worship Time Focus: Turning trials into triumphs through joy
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: James 1:2
1. Message of the verse: “2 ¶ Consider it all joy, my brethren, when
you encounter various trials.” (NASB)
“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be
and opportunity for joy.” (NLT)
The word
translated for consider is a word that can mean to evaluate, in other words the
believer is to have a plan for his life through the Word of God, and when
trials are brought into his life part of his plan is to count it joy. Notice that the verse does not say if trials
come into your life, but when trials come into your life. Trials come into the believer’s life because
of being human; we can become sick or hurt, we can have tragedies, or
disappointments. Trials can come because
we are Christians. I have read that 400
believers die each day because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and countless
others are being persecuted for the cause of Jesus Christ each day. Joy does not necessarily mean happiness for
happiness has to do with things on the outside of a person while joy deals with
what is going on in the inside of a person.
The Lord Jesus Christ had joy while going to the cross, Hebrews 12:2
teaches this. It cannot be said that He
was happy about it, but as He looked ahead of returning to His Father in heaven
and accomplishing the work that He was sent to do He certainly could have joy in
that “bad” situation.
2. Spiritual meaning for my life today: The Lord has given new light into the meaning
of this verse, for now I know that the reason for joy in trials is because the
Lord uses them to bring about maturity in my life as I go through them, and He
is the One who chooses the various trials that I should go through to bring
about the desired maturity in my life.
Joy does not depend on the circumstances in my life but on my outlook,
and my trusting of an all knowing, loving, gracious, merciful Heavenly Father
who can never make a mistake.
The Word of God was refreshing to my heart as I read it
this morning. It was also challenging
too.
My Steps
of Faith Today: Have more
trust in the Lord for the things that go on in my life, for He is the One who
chooses the things that will cause me to grow into the image of His Son.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 121:1-8
1.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall
my help come?
2.
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
3.
He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will
not slumber.
4.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5.
The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your
right hand.
6.
The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7.
The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your
soul.
8.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From
this time forth and forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment