Day #5

God has so much to give us today.  Start this time out asking God to help you understand what you are about to read.  Ask Him to bring it to life, so you can learn to live it out.

Read James 1:13-15

Trials are “tests that challenge faith.”  We have already learned that trials (hard things that we face) can be very good for us.  Trials make us stronger in our faith and become more like Christ.  Remember, we are running a race!  Part of your training in living for Christ can come in the form of a trial.

Did you know that God tests people through their trials?

Read Genesis 22, Exodus 16:4, 2 Chronicles 32:31

Who did God test in these verses?

He tested them to strengthen their character!  BUT GOD NEVER TEMPTED or lured them into sin!!  Nor does he do this to us.  He would never seek to harm our faith.  As Christians we should never blame God when we do wrong, and here’s why…

Read James 1:14 again.

The words “lured” and “enticed” are fishing terms.  These words mean to draw prey away from shelter in order to trap them with a deadly hook.  But listen carefully… it is the person’s own evil desires that ensnare him.  Sin is never God’s fault.

Read 1 Peter 5:8-9

Who seeks to “devour” us?

Satan waits for the right moment to devour us!!

Remember the picture of the small child hiding behind his mom or dad’s legs… when we hide ourselves in God’s word by reading it daily, obeying it, and memorizing it, we are safe.  We are no match for Satan alone!!  TRUST THIS!!  He is too much for us to fight alone!!  But, when we hide behind the Father (God), there is protection.  He is no match for our Heavenly Father!!  PrAiSe GoD!!

Read James 1:15

Try to draw out a picture of the following in your journal.

Your own strong desires give birth to sin (things you actually do).  That sin becomes stronger and stronger until it gives birth to death.  Death is what eventually happens when you give in to temptation.

So your evil desires (thoughts) eventually grow so big that you actually do them, sin.  And then your sin grows so strong that death takes place.

So, all this trouble begins in the thought life and the heart.  You might be asking, “How in the world can I control my thoughts or my desires, so I can stop all this craziness.” 

By reading God’s word DAILY!!  By obeying what you are reading… living it out!!  By memorizing scripture… hiding it in your heart!!  You will make some mistakes, but you must get back up and head toward the finish line.

REMEMBER, Click the Memory Verse tab above and start memorizing your verse for this week!