Devotion 10: July 30 - Aug. 5

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

Prayer and Praise

What is the first thing you do when you begin facing difficult situations or you feel as though everything around you is crashing in on you? Often many of us begin to crumble, cry, and/or complain. The verses we will look at this week will guide to us pray, give praise, seek spiritual nurturing, and provide spiritual encouragement and guidance to others who are struggling.

Sunday: Read James 5:13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”  Today our verse tells us if anyone is suffering, he should pray. It does not matter the cause of our suffering. It could be an illness, a disease, a situation, or a person causing us to suffer. Regardless of what it is we are to immediately turn to God in prayer. We are to pray in the name of Jesus, who serves as our intercessor. Although God already knows about our suffering, He wants us to have communication with Him and talk to Him about the situation and how we are feeling. He is there for us in times of trouble and distress, and He wants to comfort and guide us through.

We also see in this scripture that we are to sing praises if we are feeling cheerful. We are usually really good at going to God with our troubles and sufferings, but too often we neglect to go to Him during the good times. It seems that once God has gotten us through a difficult situation, we get busy with our lives and forget to spend time with Him. It is really sad that we only seem to go to Him and need Him when we are struggling. He also wants our communication during the peaceful and smooth times in our lives. In fact, not only does He want it, but also He deserves it. We are to give Him praise and sing praises to His name for His greatness in our lives.

In your journal today make two lists. One will be a list of the sufferings you are facing right now. You may only have one, or you may have several. These sufferings may be physical (health related) or difficult situations, or the list could consist of both types of sufferings. The second list will be a list of praises to God for the good and positive things in your life. The praises on this list could be anything from your health, your family, your job, etc., Hopefully, your praise list will be much longer than your sufferings lists.

Once both lists are made, pray for God’s help, healing, strength, and guidance for the sufferings you are facing. Then, begin praising God for all the positive things you have in your life. This part of your prayer time may take a while, so be prepared to give God lots of praise today. All day today, reflect on the positive things for which God has blessed you.

Monday: Focus on James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Today let’s see what the scripture says about those who are really sick or have been suffering from an ailment for quite some time. The practice laid out in today’s passage is not practiced very much anymore, but it was important enough for James to include it in his book of instructions guiding us in how we are to live a Godly life. I have witnessed this practice being implemented a couple of times in my life, and I promise the effects afterward were positive. One occasion in which this practice was implemented was in regards to a man who had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Our church came together with the elders to pray and anoint this man. We prayed fervently that God would do the miraculous and heal this man. At his next doctor’s appointment later that week, his doctor said the cancer spot was diminishing and the it was in remission. Over the period of the next several weeks, the cancer continued to shrink until it was completely gone. The doctor said the only time he has ever witnessed this type of cancer doing that on its own was a direct result of prayers and an act of God. This healing process involved no human influence whatsoever. What is this practice?

This practice involves the one who is really sick calling upon the elders of the church to come together and pray over the sick one and anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The key for this practice to be effective lies in the depth of faith of all participants. Of course, this is done only in the name of the Lord.  This type of prayer certainly requires complete trust and faith in the power of the Almighty God. The person seeking this kind of healing cannot go into such an act with doubt or even a slight wavering in faith.

Do you have that kind of faith? Have you ever seen or experienced for yourself God’s miraculous healing in this manner? In your journal today, either reflect on the incident you have witnessed or been involved, or discuss your lack of faith and why you might be reluctant to demonstrating such strong faith. This reflection time should open your eyes to the mighty power of God and strengthen your faith in who He is.

Tuesday: Focus on James 5:15-16 “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Today, we will go deeper into the meaning and the power of our faith. As we reflect on this passage and the depth of our faith, let’s think about the woman who had been having problems with a bleeding issues for twelve years. She merely reached touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed (Matthew 9:20). Was it the garment of clothing that had the power to heal this woman? No, of course it wasn’t. The thing that healed her was her faith in who Christ was (and still is) that if she could just get close enough to Him to touch the bottom edge of his clothing, she would be healed. Her faith was so strong, that she only needed to be close enough to reach out and barely touch His clothing. It was her faith in the powerful God that healed her.

The verse today tells us the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. How strong is your faith? Do you have the same kind of faith as the woman in Matthew 9:20? Do you have a tendency to be weak in your faith? Often, we tend to think of the miracles as being something that was done in the days of Jesus’ life on earth or through His disciples when He left earth. We don’t realize that Jesus still has the same power and will utilize it through us today just as He did in the days of His disciples ministry on earth. In order for us to experience that same kind of power, we must have strong faith.

In your journal today answer this question, “Is my faith as strong as the woman in Matthew 9:20?” If your answer no, write a prayer asking God to help you to have that same kind of faith. Ask God to help you recall moments in which situations worked out and the only answer as to how they worked out is attributed to an act of God. As God brings such an occasion or occasions to your mind, write them in your journal. Analyze the entire sitaution and discover the miraculous power of God.

Wednesday: Focus on James 5:15-16 “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Today let’s continue looking at the same passage as yesterday, but let’s go a bit further in our thoughts. Yesterday, we talked about the strong faith that is required if we are to experience the miraculous healing power of God. Today, we will focus on our sins as a possible cause of our sickness. Of course, sin is not the only reason we incur sickness. There are times when God allows it for other reasons such as to prove His power and strength to others observing His children as they are suffering. Sometimes it occurs so others can begin to understand their need for such a saviour.

Today the perspective on which we will spend some time  is the sins we have in our life and how we will be forgiven for them if we confess them to God and ask forgiveness. There are times that our sin will lead to physical sickness, and there are other times when our sin merely leads to spiritual sickness. Regardless of the kind of sickness our sin has caused us, we are to handle them both in the same way. We are to confess our sin before a Holy God and ask His forgiveness. Too many times we get so busy with the routine of our life that we fail to acknowledge our sin and seek His forgiveness. We even get in the habit of suppressing our sin rather than dealing with it.

Consider some faults that you are aware that you have. Are those faults hindering your faith and possibly hindering your health? List the faults as they come to your mind. Beside each one indicate if it is hindering only your spiritual well-being or your physical health, or both. Do you need to confess any or all of these faults? If so, begin confessing, which means acknowledging they are in your life and are not pleasing to God. After confessing, ask God to help you remove them from your life.

Thursday: Read on James 5:15-16 one more time. “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Today let’s look now at the sins in our life that are visible to others. There are times that our sins are a hindrance to others, and we must confess them to others as a public commitment that we are sorry and are being cleansed from them. Other times we need to confess to others as an act of accountability. When our sins are too strong for us to walk away from, we need the help of strong Christian brothers and sisters. In this case, we are to confess to them our struggles and sins and ask them to pray with us and periodically hold us accountable. God knows that some sins have such strongholds that we need a physical person in our presence to talk with us and pray with us when we delve into our weak and stumbling moments. We should never try to get through some things alone; we are designed to need each other. We are to pray for one another from a heart of love and not judgement.

Today, in your journal list the sins that you need to confess to others. Now, pray that God will guide you to a trustworthy prayer partner or team that can be a strong accountability partner or team for you. Contact that person or persons and set a definite time to meet, talk, and pray consistently (weekly or monthly). Write their names and the meeting times in your journal.

Remember, as you come together with a prayer team, you will all begin to experience the ultimate power of God at work in all of your lives.

Friday: Focus on James 5:17-18. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” Today let’s look at the consistent prayers of the great saint, Elijah. Elijah fervently and consistently prayed for three and a half years for the rains to come and restore the barren land. For three and half years nothing happened. The earth remained dry, but he never gave up. Finally, one day he prayed that same prayer again just as fervently and with the same intensity of faith as before, and God answered that prayer and poured out rain upon the earth. As the rains came, the fruit began to grow and flourish.

How was Elijah able to continue praying and to continue having faith day after day for three and half years? It seems like after waiting so long, a person would have a tendency to become frustrated and even begin doubting. Remember as we have learned from previous devotions in James that doubt goes against the grain of having complete faith, resulting in God not hearing and answering our prayers. Elijah was able to continue regardless of the rains coming because he guarded his heart and kept his faith and relationship with God in check. He knew that God was hearing his prayers and would restore his land when the time was right.

In the same way as Elijah’s case, we are to continue praying in faith without wavering. We are to trust that the Almighty and All-powerful God hears our prayers, cares about our needs, and is in control. Sometimes He chooses to wait before sending His blessings, so that others will see the miraculous act was done only by Him. In these cases, He desires to prove Himself to an unbelieving world. Trust Him even when you are not getting the answers or the blessings for which you are asking.

In your journal write down something for which you have been praying that God has not yet provided the answer or the blessing. Now, pray and ask God to give you the ability to continue trusting Him and to continue to strengthen your faith regardless of the prayers being answered or not being answered.

Saturday: Read James 5:19-20. “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” Today is a hard one to swallow. This passage gives us instructions that we may prefer not to do more than we prefer not to do some of the other commands from this book. The first idea is to bring those into salvation that have never repented and accepted Christ. When we present Christ and explain to the lost their need for salvation, we have played a part in saving the soul of a person. That is an extremely important command that we are to follow and apply regularly.

The second idea here is when we see a fellow Christian who is living in error according to the scriptures, we are to truthfully show them the error of their ways and guide them back to a right relationship with Christ. We are not to persecute them, accuse them, or attempt to destroy them, but we are to first pray that God through the Holy Spirit will open their hearts and help them to see the error of their ways. Then, we are to approach them from a heart of love and compassion to help them to see what they are doing and how it aligns against the backdrop of Christ and the scriptures. There will be special blessings from God for those who lead the lost to a newfound relationship with Christ and for those who help restore a misguided or off track believer.

Has God been using you effectively in the lives of others as discussed in today’s devotion? In your journal list the people whom God has used you to draw them to Him or back to Him. Write down the most recent incident. Has it been a while? Have you always allowed God to use you in these ways of having the right attitude and heart of love and compassion? Do you need to surrender your personal thoughts about the actions of others who have strayed away from God? If so, write that in your journal and begin praying.

Recap of James

James is a powerful book of commands, instructions, and promises. I hope God has spoken to your heart in a powerful way and this study has strengthened your faith and walk with God. Are you still struggling in some areas? If so, that is normal. Continue praying and seeking God, and He will continue to guide you and bless with according to His will. This is the kind of study that you may need to revisit from time to time. Read through your journal periodically and see if God has completed a work in you, or if He is still working in certain areas. Journal reflections are great for keeping us on track and reminding us of where we once were and how we have grown.

Please reach out to me with any questions or struggles you are facing and need extra prayer support. I will continue to pray for those who went through this study. I will pray that God will continue to show you His ways.

Cheryl Toon

#9 Devotion: July 23-29

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

Warning, Patience, and Prayer

Of course, it is more pleasant and fun to always have what we want and to never suffer. However, that is not the kind of life that was promised to us when we became a Christian. We were promised to have exactly what we need exactly when we need it as we remain faithful to God and ask Him to give us the desire of His heart. He is always faithful and just to those who seek Him and love Him with his/her whole heart.

This week we are going to focus on the warnings for those who live according selfish indulgences, especially at the expense of others. We will also focus on being patient and striving to be Godly as though we are expecting Christ’s return, as well as, maintaining a faithful commitment to prayer and trust that God will bless us and use us to accomplish His good will.

Warning to the Rich Oppressors

Sunday: Read James 5:1-6 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”  Today’s passage is a warning against those who have been indulging in their own pleasures with no regard to God’s plan or direction for their lives. These are the people who are selfish and want to enjoy the earthly pleasures regardless of the harm their indulgences may cause others. The passage today is a warning that their pleasures will soon end, and they will receive their just punishment for such life choices. That punishment will bring extreme misery. Those who were oppressed by these selfish and unjust people also will receive their reward. They will be blessed throughout eternity.

One thing we need to keep in mind regarding today’s passage is that the pleasures of this world and our selfish indulgences will only be fun and last for a short season in comparison to eternity. It is far better to suffer with Christ today for a short season than throughout all eternity.

One way to look at this is from the perspective of a baby. Today my eight month old grandson badly wanted my husband’s dirty, sweaty cap that he wears while doing yard work. I cannot begin to describe the smell and grime that is penetrated in that hat. For some reason, it was very appealing to my little grandson. I knew it was not good for him, but he wanted so badly that when I took it from him, he cried.

We are sometimes like that baby when it comes to the things we desperately desire. Not all things we want are bad, and God does want to bless us with some nice, even extravagant things we want in life. However, those items should not become our treasure. God, family, Bible study, prayer, and friends should be our treasure.

Think about your life and where you stand in these issues. Read the passage again slowly; then, answer the following questions in your journal. Are you living for self or God? Make a list of the things you strongly believe you MUST have. How many of these items fall in the category that of things that will rot or corrode? Also in your journal write the things you treasure most in life. Again, look at this list and indicate which of these items will rot or corrode.

Monday: Focus on James 5:1-6 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you..” Today, look at the same passage as yesterday, but focus on the people in your life or that you encounter. Think about how you treat others. Do you have a tendency to use others to get what you want? If you have ever been guilty of doing that write the person or people in your journal beside each name, write a brief description of the incident.  Have you ever cheated someone from something that rightfully should have been theirs? (This is not only referring to an inheritance, but possibly taking credit for something that someone else did in order to make yourself look better). In your journal make a list of those people and beside each name, write a brief description of the incident.

Now, look at both lists. Is God prompting you to do something? Is it possible to right a wrong you have done to someone else as you climbed to the top or strove for the limelight? Write your responses to both questions in your journal.

Tuesday: Focus on James 5:7-8 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Patience! These verses tell us we are to be patient and continue living according the standards given to us by God until the day Christ returns. We are to patiently treat others with the respect that comes from God, we are to demonstrate God’s love to others, and we are to live pure and holy before an almighty God until Christ returns. As I am writing this, I realize there are times when maintaining patience is next to impossible. Sometimes we get down right tired of the struggles, the frustrations, the obstacles, the attacks, and the routine of the daily grind. We even get to the point that things will never get better, yet we are instructed to be patient and wait.

What are we to do while we patiently wait? The last part of this passage tells us to “establish our hearts.” What does that mean? It means we are to continue to be faithful to God, strive for perfection, trust and allow him to guide us through our journey. Even though we endure difficult times, He promises to greatly bless us in the end if we have remained true and faithful to Him. He also promises to carry us through the difficult times. The best thing we can do is to set our mindset on the goal of persevering and continuing the pace until He provides an alternative route.

I recently experienced that myself. For four years, I felt the stress of a situation and saw no change for the better coming my way. I prayed, even begged and pleaded with God to provide a change for me. I began searching and probing into every potential new avenue, but nothing seemed to be the appropriate direction for me. I had been the Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God several times, and I knew deep within my heart the avenue I was seeking was not right, but I was becoming so desperate for a change, I was willing to step out and pursue regardless as to whether it was right for me or not. There were a few opportunities that I was moving toward that I knew was definitely wrong for me, so I prayed and asked God to close the door because I knew if it were offered to me, I would take it knowing it was wrong. I am so glad that God is always in control. He did just as I asked and closed all the doors that I certainly did not need to walk through. Last year, God opened the perfect door, and in my opinion, it seemed as though the timing was out of the blue; however, in God’s mind the timing was perfect. He greatly blessed me with the perfect fit for me.

What should you do when you are instructed to be patient and continue where you are doing what you are doing? Continue to pray and ask God to bless you with His perfect blessing for His plan for your life while continuing where you are doing what you are doing. I promise from personal experience, God will bless you and relieve your distress when the timing is right according to His plan. Keep in mind, God is never late, but He is always on time. Trust Him and keep going.

In your journal today, write about the stress or difficult situation that you are enduring and would love to have it changed. Next, write a prayer to God expressing your exact feelings about the scenario. (Remember, be honest because God already knows; He just wants you to communicate your feelings with Him). Finally, write a statement of commitment that you will remain faithful exactly where you are until He provides the perfect new direction.

Wednesday: Focus on James 5:9: “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” Today’s passage is short but powerful. Yesterday, we talked about remaining faithful even in stressful or difficult situations when we see no escape at all. Today, we are going to expand that thought a bit further. We are not to grumble against each other as we are enduring these circumstances. If it is your co-workers or your boss who are causing the stress you are experiencing, you are not to grumble against them. Now, as those words came out of my mouth onto the paper just now, I realized how difficult it is to comply to this command. It is our nature to grumble and complain when people seem to be working against us and making our lives more stressful. Right now take a deep breath and absorb what this scripture is telling us to do (or not to do) and why.

If we begin telling the negative things about others, even if they are true, we cause others to see the negative aspects more readily. It is not our place to be their judge; it is God’s place. This passage tells us clearly why we are not to speak about others negatively; it is because as we do so, we appear to be judging them, and that will cause God to judge us for our words and actions. As I am stating these words, I am well aware that I have been guilty of doing this action myself. It is so hard to keep our mouths shut and continue when we know what is being done is wrong. However, God is the ultimate judge, and when the time is right, He will take care of the ones who are wilfully doing wrong to His beloved faithful children. I know it seems as though the ones who are doing wrong are “getting away with it,” and it seems so unfair. This is where our patience and enduring until God changes things comes into play. This may be a struggle for you, as it has been a struggle for me. However, if we can remain close to God, continue where we are and doing exactly what we have been doing until He opens a new door and redirects our paths. Remember also that God can deal with those who are in the wrong far better than we can, and He will, in turn, bless us if we follow His commands and trust Him. We tend to make situations worse and even get ourselves into trouble if we take matters into our own hands.

Today, write down the times you can remember when you broke this command and spoke in a grumbling way against those who were doing wrong to you. Did your grumbling make things better, or did it cause you to get more riled up and frustrated? Ask God to forgive you and to help you move forward with Him. Also ask God to give you the ability to keep your mouth shut and to continue where you are regardless of the circumstances and actions of others. Write a statement of trusting Him to handle things with those people and to remove you from the situation if He chooses when He is ready.

Thursday: Focus on James 5:10-11 “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” Today we are going to go a step further with the idea of not grumbling. We are to be an example of Christ-like patience to others as we are enduring suffering. This is not easy to do, but others are constantly watching us, and the best witness for Christ we can give to others is our ability to maintain patience in the midst of difficulties. On the other hand, the worst witness of Christ we offer others is the way we lose control, explode, and gripe and grumble about the way things are going. People are watching us even when we are unaware. I have had moments when I must have handled situations correctly because I have received cards from students and sometimes from adults who have indicated they learned from me how to handle difficult situations in a Godly manner by watching me calmly and graciously demonstrate kindness and love to someone who was behaving in ways that were just the opposite. As I have read such cards and notes, I have thought, “Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to demonstrate You enough to teach others how You expect us to act during adversity.” I also am very sorry for all the times when I have blown witness opportunities because I reacted from my own selfish thinking and anger or frustration (and believe me, I have done that a few times).

In your journal today, list times when you have reacted to adversity from others in a way that was pleasing to God and presented an appropriate picture of the patience of Christ. Now, make a list of the times when you behaved just the opposite. I know as you are thinking about the second list you are more than likely feeling rotten inside because I still have those feelings. Pray and ask God to forgive you; then, ask Him to remove those negative thoughts about yourself and your behaviour, so you can now move forward with God. Ask God to help you to always allow Him to have control over your thoughts and actions, so you will react according to His pleasing and not react out of hostility and anger. This is a prayer that you may have to pray daily. This is also a prayer that you should pray when you know you are going to be in situations that will test your patience. 

Remember, you are a work in progress. If you falter with your reactions and patience, don’t beat yourself up. Pick yourself up, pray and ask forgiveness, and move on with the right attitude during the next opportunity. Let me caution you; once you make a commitment and set your mind to demonstrate the patience of Christ, you may be tested. Be ready!

Friday: Focus on James 5:10-11 “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” Today, we are going to focus on the compassion God has toward those who have remained steadfast in the midst of their struggles and difficulties as well as our need for conversation and encouragement from Godly friends during these struggles. This passage reminds us of the saints of old who persevered in their trials and struggles and how we consider them to be very blessed people. Their example is there for us to use as a pattern for our lives and actions. The passage specifically points out the perseverance of Job and the favour he found from God as a result of his faithfulness. He certainly was a perfect example of remaining faithful and not complaining in the midst of the worst sufferings a person can endure. He did talk with his closest friends about his situation. He was seeking their spiritual guidance and seriously needed the companionship and open ears of his most trusted God fearing friends. Although they gave him poor advice by telling him to go on and curse God and end his suffering, the human nature of Job required him to need his friends and to have deep conversations in which he could express his emotions and confusion regarding his situation.  

We discovered earlier this week that we are not to complain and grumble. Keep in mind, there is a difference in confiding in our closest friends and seeking support and guidance from those we trust regarding spiritual matters and grumbling and complaining to others. Our human nature compels us to need each other for strength and encouragement to help us through our difficult times. When we share our burdens, as we are instructed from the scripture to bear one another's burdens, we must make sure that we are truly going to those who are spiritually grounded and solid in their faith in Christ and truly strive to live Godly lives themselves.

In your journal today make a list of those in your spiritual circle that you know you can trust to provide you prayer support, Godly guidance, and encouragement in times of suffering and difficulties. Write a statement of praise and thanks to God for placing such people in your life. You may even consider writing each person a note of thanks for the Godly love and support they have provided you through the years.

Saturday: Read James 5:12 “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” When we are upset and must give a response, we may tend to add expletives to our answer. However, this verse warns us against doing that. This verse begins by saying “Above all…do not swear…” The two words “above all” puts a strong emphasis that this is a very serious command that we are to follow. Then, it goes on to tell us to not swear by heaven, earth, or any other oath. Those who must swear or curse are considered an enemy of God. James tells us here to simply say “yes” or “no,” so we will not fall under condemnation. There is no reason that we need to add to the meaning of our intentions; we simply need to make a definite decision, state it in simple terms, and stand firm. The added expletives do not bring gain or pleasure to the situation; in fact, these expletives harm the reputation of a Christian. We must be very careful and guard our language especially in the heat of the moment. We will damage our witness. Besides, no one ever admires or respects a woman with a potty mouth.

Think about your language when you have been upset in the past. What kinds of words did you choose to use to express how you were feeling? In your journal evaluate the language you typically use when you are upset. Do you need to ask for forgiveness? Do you need to clean up your language? Submit that part of your life to God right now and let the the transformation begin.

#8 Devotion: July 16 - 22

Warning Against Worldliness

Have you ever wanted something you could not have? Have you seen someone else get what you wanted, and you thought, “That is not fair. I wanted that and she got it.” Then, before you know it, you have become jealous of what she has that you don’t. Eventually, you begin to fill up with envy and even resentment toward that person for having something you want but do not have.

If any of this sounds l­­­ike something you have experienced at any time (even maybe right now), please know that you are normal and the human part of you has these tendencies. However, this week we are going to discover how this kind of attitude brings destruction upon us and displeases God our Father. We will spend time in prayer and devotion working through the process of weeding this kind of thinking from our minds before too much damage is done.

Focus intently upon the Word, in order to be changed.

Sunday: Read James 4:1-2a “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel…”  Let those verses sink in one at a time. Now, focus on the following questions and answer them one at a time in your journal. Take your time and process the questions as you go. If you truly want freedom from this turmoil and war in your friendship and in your heart, be honest and allow God to guide you through this process. You may have a tendency to sugar coat or deny your actual feelings and thoughts; sometimes these kinds of feelings are difficult to admit. To move beyond this, you must face these feelings truthfully and  head-on.

Here are the questions to answer: Have you recently been at odds with someone? Are you at odds with someone right now? What is the reason? Did this person honestly do something intentionally to hurt you, or are you merely jealous because that person has something that you would love to have? What is it this person has that you desire to have? Is it a bigger house, new car, more financial stability, more peaceful home life, job promotion, etc., The list reveals only  a few reasons. If you are having ill feelings toward someone, you already know why. Write that in your journal. Yes, there are times that certain people do things intentionally to hurt us. That is not the issue here. I am referring to those people or that person with whom are truly jealous, envious, or bitter toward because of things they have in their life that you do not.

Now that you have answered those questions, let’s look at the verses again and see what God says about us regarding those emotions and feelings. Verse 1 asks us what causes the quarrels and fights among us? Have you ever quarrelled with someone such as your husband, family, friends, or colleagues at work? What caused that quarrel or argument? The next question in verse 1 points out the primary cause: “Is it because of the passions or desires within us that causes us to be at odds with someone. Most quarrels or arguments occur because someone is not getting his/her way. This causes a battle to rage within us, and eventually that battle surfaces as we lash out at others with words or at least within our hearts and minds (verse 2).  Please note that even if  we keep it to ourselves and only think it, our minds will corrupt our hearts and cause problems not only with the person involved but also with God.

Now, look at your journal and these verses. Answer these questions in your journal: What is God telling you regarding your attitude toward the person He has brought to your mind? What is God calling you to do at this very moment regarding this issue? Now, pray thanking God for pointing this out to you and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse your heart from these negative feelings toward this person. Ask God to remove the bitterness, envy, anger, etc., toward this person from your heart. Ask God to replace the negative thought about this person with positive thoughts. Ask God to help you to not hold it against this person for what he/she has that you do not.

Monday: Focus on James 4:2b-3 “You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” What do these verses tell us regarding why we don’t have the things we want? First it tells us that we do not have what we want because we do not ask for it. Sometimes we simply don’t have the things we want because we have not asked God to give us those things. However, it goes a bit father than that. Sometimes the things we want are for selfish gain that is not in alignment with God’s plan for our lives. The old saying, “Father knows best” is definitely true in this sense. He knows all things, and He especially knows what is good for us to have and what is not good for us to have. There are reasons sometimes that He not allow us to have all the things we want. Sometimes if we are allowed to have certain things such as the job promotion or an abundance of money, it could take precedence in our lives over our relationship with God. That would be the worse thing that could happen to us. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and knows the things that could cause more temptation and harm to us. That is why He may choose to withhold certain things from us.

You may thinking, then why did He allow him/her to have those things? God knows his/her heart and the plan He has for his/her life. We have to trust God with what He chooses for us and let go of the lives of others. They are not our concern; they are God’s. I know your next thought is what about those people who have no relationship with God and are not focused on serving Him or even acknowledging Him with their life. Again, those people are not our concern, and their life is between them and God—not us, them, and God.

We must learn to keep our focus on God and seek Him diligently for His desires for our lives. If our desires begin to align with His desires, He will give us the desires of our hearts. However, the key here is that our desires must align with the desires that God has for us. Remember, He created us for a specific plan and purpose. We are to seek Him to find that plan and purpose, and trust Him to give what we need and what He desires we have.

Where is your focus today? What are the desires of your heart? What are the reasons for those desires? Are you focused on obtaining things in life only for your own selfish pleasure, or do you desire to be used by God and to utilize the things with which He blesses you for His kingdom and His purpose. Do you need to realign your desires today? Answer these questions in your journal, and then, write a statement of commitment to God that you will be satisfied with what He has given you, and you will only seek after the things He desires for you. Also make a commitment to focus more on Him instead of your own selfish desires.

Tuesday: Focus on James 4:4-6 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” Sometimes we tend to think that we can participate in our selfish desires at certain times as long as we attend church, read our Bible, and have a prayer time with God. That may be well and good if our selfish desire is a hobby or an activity that we use as a downtime stress release. God wants us to enjoy life, but He does not want to be replaced in life with the things we enjoy. In fact, in verse 4, God says that we are an adulterous people when we replace Him with the worldly pleasures. The verse goes on to say that the world is enmity with God. This, of course, is a result of the sin that entered into the world back in the Garden of Eden causing a separation in relationship between man and God the creator. The key word here is creator. God created us to have a relationship and fellowship with Him. When other things in our life take precedence over Him, we have committed the act of adultery upon our creator. If we think we can tinker with the world in worldly pleasures that displeases God and maintain a right relationship with Him, we are sadly mistaken. The world is an enemy to God, and the ways of the world completely go against the very nature of God. Verse 5 says that God jealously yearns for the Spirit that He has created to dwell within us.

Let’s think about this aspect from the role of a mother to her daughter. If you have a daughter, you will understand; if you don’t think in terms of you as the daughter and how your mother might feel. Suppose your daughter decides she wants another mother figure in her life, so she ignores you as her mother, but dotes on another lady for chats, advice, shopping sprees, having pedicures together, etc., How would you feel? That is your daughter that you gave birth to. You want to love her as your daughter and want a special mother/daughter relationship with her, but you feel very unimportant and as though you have been replaced.

God feels the same way when He sees His beloved creation replacing Him with other things in their lives. When we do this, it is the same as committing an adulterous affair. It literally breaks the heart of God our Father.

There is hope for us if we recognize what we have done and humble ourselves before God and ask forgiveness. He will provide us with much grace and restore our relationship. On the other hand, for those who are too proud to humble themselves before the Lord and center their focus on Him, He will oppose.

Today in your journal, list the desires of your heart, the activities, and people that take precedence in your life. In other words, list who or what has priority in your life. If it is not God, humble yourself before Him right now and ask His forgiveness and ask Him to develop in you a strong yearning desire to have a stronger relationship with Him. Ask for the same kind of yearning for Him that He has for you. Write that commitment in your journal once you have prayed for it. (Remember, He wants to give us the desires of our hearts once our desires are aligned with His desires, and having this kind of yearning for a relationship with Him is definitely a desire He wants to grant).

Wednesday: Focus on James 4:7-10: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” Today’s passage is very special to me. I learned to practice this action in order to receive this promise many years ago. I taught this to my first daughter when she was old enough to understand. It was extremely special to me one day when I was working at the kitchen sink and watching through the window as my two daughters were playing on the swing set in the back yard and I heard my older daughter (who was about ten at the time) explaining this practice with a promise to my younger daughter (who was about seven). That was a very proud moment for me to see that not only had my older daughter learned and practiced this principal I had taught her, but now she was teaching it to her younger sister.

This action to practice with a promise is to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” This is a necessity in my life. In fact, it is as necessary as brushing my teeth each morning and evening. When I am tempted to stray, when I am tempted to become  distracted from God’s plan, or when I feel oppressed by Satanic attacks,  I will quote this scripture and sometimes I will verbalize it aloud, so Satan will be forced to flee from my presence and I can get back to my focus on God. Satan will not stay in the presence of God, so when we submit to God resist him—that is the action, he must fleee—that is the promise. Then, we are to draw near to God—the action, and He will draw near to us—that is the promise.

No matter what our temptations, struggles, or obstacles in life, if we will practice the actions mentioned above, we will receive the promises from God. Because we are sinners by nature, we must also practice cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts when we find ourselves headed toward becoming a double-minded person. We should come to the Lord with a mournful heart that is saddened by the wicked and sinful condition we are in. If we come to God with true sorrow for our sinful condition and humble ourselves before Him, He will forgive us and lift us up to where He wants us to be. This also is part of connecting our desires to the desires of God.

In your journal today, list some situations in which you need to  practice the the actions discussed and received God’s promises. Maybe there are some circumstances in which you are feeling so overwhelmed with an attack from Satan, and you are desperate for God chase him out of your presence and lift you to the presence of God. Maybe there is a struggle or temptation with which you struggling, and no matter how hard you have tried, you can not overcome it. Submit that to the Lord, resist the devil, and he will be forced to leave. Do that action right now and claim that promise. God is wanting to give you victory and lift you up to a higher place.

Thursday: Focus on James 4:11-12 “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” Today we are going to focus on how we view others. We are instructed by the scripture not to say slanderous things about other people. We are not even to judge them in our minds. Sometimes it is hard to control our thoughts especially when we see someone who is different. I remember when my older daughter came home from a summer long mission trip, and she had tattoos of symbols down her arms and legs. She had been doing medical missions in the African bush. When it was time for her to leave the little village, the women she had  helped wanted to show their appreciation by painting these symbols (which had meaning to them) on her arms to her fingers and her legs to her toes. It was special that they wanted to bless her with these symbols. After picking her up from the airport, my husband and I took her to the mall and then out to eat. She was excited to be in the mall, but I remember one lady walking by us who stopped, looked at our daughter, made a face of disgust, shook her ahead, and walked away. Of course, the mother bear in me who understood why she was covered with these tattoo symbols, also knowing it was henna and was not permanent, wanted to tell that lady a thing or two. However, I refrained, but in my mind I was thinking, “Lady, you have no right to judge my daughter because you have no clue what she has been through nor what she has been doing.” I saw the lady in apparent judgment toward my daughter without taking a moment to understand the reasons as to why she looked like that. I was very proud of my daughter. I considered her reaction very insulting. After all, my daughter had been serving God to a group of people who desperately needed the gospel. She also had sacrificed a great deal to be there and had even become very ill while she was there. However, her heart and passion was to be where God wanted her to be and serve Him according to His plan, and she never once considered coming home before her commitment was complete regardless of her health issues. It was by God’s grace that she made it back home and was regaining her strength and health.

How do you perceive people who look differently from you? Are you quick to judge them based on their outward appearance? Have you ever stopped to take a moment to get to know that person on the inside?

What is God bringing to your mind right now? Is he revealing ways that you have misjudged someone or said slanderous things about someone? Take a moment and write in your journal what God is bringing to your mind. Ask God to forgive you and help you to overcome this habit of being judgemental toward others.

Remember, God made us all to be different. Just because someone is not like us or doing things the way we would do them, does not mean they are bad people. Try to begin seeing people through God’s eyes instead of through our perceptions of what we think people should be. God will hold us accountable if we become the judge to others. God is the ultimate judge who goes beyond the outward appearance into the heart of people.

Boasting About Tomorrow

Friday: Focus on James 4:13-15 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” We have been focusing all week on the influences of the world and how they can lead us to negative actions, thoughts, and words. Today we are going to put a little more study into the way we think about our future and the paths we choose. Today’s passage has more to do with us making our plans rather than depending on God to lead and guide us according to His plans for us. We have said this before throughout our study of James, but God created each of us for certain purpose and plan. Although God intends for us to enjoy our lives, we are not here to serve ourselves and do as we please.

Read the passage again very slowly and let it soak in. We are only here for a short season compared to the reality of time. That means we only have a short time to accomplish God’s will. It would be a shame to waste our time on a selfish lifestyle that will only last a very short time. We need to put our focus on the eternal destination and the things that we do to enhance God’s kingdom. Every person we encounter should bring an opportunity to share Christ with them. We should be striving to live the kind of life that draws others to Christ rather than driving them away due to our selfish attitudes and actions.

In your journal today, list the things in which you have been involved. Write out beside each one listed if it was an action led by God or self.

Now, think about the plans you have made for your future. Did those plans come from the direction of God or self? Write out those plans in your journal. Begin praying and asking God to reveal if those plans are in alignment with His plans for you. Do you sense that you need to change those plans? Are you not quite sure what plans you are to follow? If that is the case, write that in your journal and begin praying for God to show you His plans. Continue your devotions and journaling. God will show you what He has planned for you to do when the time is right. Be patient and wait upon the Lord.

Saturday: Read James 4:16-17 “As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Yesterday we talked about following our plans and following God’s plans. We discovered that we are only here on earth for a short time, so we should make every moment count for God’s glory and purpose. Today, we are going to focus on the point that if we follow our own path and have some success and boast in our own accomplishments, it is as though we are boasting in our arrogant schemes. God considers boasting such as that to be evil boasting. We are merely bragging on ourselves and what we are capable of doing. Our actions should be done according to God’s direction and plan, and our boasting should be about what God is doing in our lives and through our actions for Him. We should never think more highly of ourselves, but all boasting must be given to God our Creator and Father. If it were not for Him, we would not have the things we have, and we would not be able to do the things we do. We have what we have because we have been blessed by God. He has blessed us with certain abilities and talents, so we can be used by to complete His will. We certainly do not have these attributes of our own accord.

Verse 17 points out that if anyone knows the good they should be doing and chooses not to do it, it is a sin. God will hold us accountable for what He is guiding us to do. We have no excuses for not doing what He created and called us to do.

In your journal today, review your plans from yesterday. Reflect on who has been guiding and directing your life. If you seem to have more control than God, submit your life to Him now, and write a statement of commitment in your journal. God has wonderful blessings in store for those who are willing to submit their lives completely to Him for His service. Is He calling you to go a different direction?  Listen carefully to the voice of God=