Consider It Pure Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the 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 once heard a pastor give these verses to a young couple as marriage counselling, then he laughed.   Sadly, he wasn't kidding even though he was laughing, nobody else was.  Maybe he was having major marriage and life problems.  I don't know, could married life be like this?  But the bottom line is life isn't easy for the majority of people.  And not only for married people.

The positive side of trials and testing if we allow ourselves to go through it is:

• joy
• perseverance
• maturity
• complete
• not lacking anything

You wouldn't believe what deep waters and fire I've had to walk through in my life and I'm sure if we talked I would be amazed at what you've been through.

Let's not stop now, we're so much closer to the finish line now than we were when we began this Christian walk.

Psalm 12

Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.  Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.  May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips - who is our master?"  "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD.  "I will protect them from those who malign them."  And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.  O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.  The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
Psalm 12 NIV

PRAYER

God there are people that are such liars, they have made an art out of deceiving others.
Then they are proud of it and even boast about it.
They haven't a clue about You.

It doesn't matter what they think because you protect me from them.
And You are flawless, what more needs to be said.
You are my safe refuge.
I will not concern myself about such people anymore.