November 14, 2021
“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 (NIV)
Has there been times in your Christian walk that your faith was challenged? Indeed we all have at one time or another. How did you keep the faith in the face of fierce trials, difficulties, problems and just questions?
~ I have an ‘evidence closet’ and from time to time, I have to go there and reflect on what God has done in the past and be reminded of His Faithfulness!
~ The Word of God always reminds us that we must KEEP THE FAITH! What does keep the Faith look like? John 16:33 reminds us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
1 Timothy 4:16 encourages us to keep the Faith and watch our lives and doctrine closely and remain true to the Faith, persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
~ Keeping the faith also involves growing in Christ. Jesus is the author of our Faith the one who initiated the relationship, and He is the perfecter of our Faith! He is the only one who will see it through to the end. From beginning to end, Jesus is the source of our Faith. We remember what He has done, and we look forward to what He will do. Practically, this involves having an active prayer life, studying God’s Word, and digging into His Truth. Faith, trust and confidence is built up over time as God proves Himself faithful time and time again. God is only obligated to back up what He said not what we think He said!
“Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by Faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-7.
A FAITHFUL 
HEART: Hebrews 11:2-3. Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. (NLT)
James 1:2-4. “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. (NIV). Be reminded that our faith will be challenged. But it is not only in the difficult times that we dig in our heels and fight for our faith. We contend for our faith always.”
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Word that encourages us in life’s trials, in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!