Summer Study - July 3

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 

Tests

Hi All,

What a privilege I have to share with you in the study of James, Ruth, and Colossians, three unlikely books of the Bible to be lumped together… so I am excited to see what the Holy Spirit has in store for us. In today’s reading, James (the brother of our Lord Jesus and leader of the early church), reminds us all that in our lives we will experience trials and temptations. Anyone experiencing difficulty or a temptation today? I face those every single day. The difference between temptations and trials is that temptations flow out of the desires of my heart, usually self-centered desires. Trials and difficulties are things that come to us because we live in a world that has fallen short of the glory of God or because of choices from others around us, which really are out of our control. The thing I have to keep in mind is that according to vs. 18, I am always a “prized possession” to my Lord and savior, which means God is with me always: leading, guiding, walking with me in the midst of those experiences. I hope today’s reading will fill your heart with comfort and peace.

Read: James 1:9-18

Questions to Consider:

1.     Consider what is an area that you have been vulnerable to temptation in your past, then consider how God always offers a window for you to walk away from that temptation.

2.    Can you remember a time when you experienced testing and because of your patient endurance, you received an unexpected outcome?

Activity for the Day: Today is Wednesday, at the end of the day, before you go to sleep, reflect for a few minutes on your day. Did you experience any testing or trial that is ongoing? How is God giving you the ability to have patience and endurance? Did you experience any temptations? Did you have victory or did you fall into sin? Ask for forgiveness if it developed into sin (i.e. anger at the person who cut in line in front of you…), think of what you could do next time (i.e. breath deeply, count to ten, focus on a verse of the Bible or in prayer).   

Have a blessed day!

Loida