22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 

This is a difficult passage as I imagine it might be for most believers.  I don't most of what I am directed to in the bible and for this I feel shame (even though I shouldn't).  At the same time, I know that God loves me no less and it is a reminder of how great He is....that I am SO imperfect and broken, yet He loves me just the same.

That does not get me off the hook though in that I DO need to do what the word says!!

My prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so full of love and grace for me it is amazing.  I know that I don't do most of what You ask of me so please forgive me Lord.  I know You have forgiven me for past sins and I am deeply thankful for this love and grace that You shower (like a flood!).  Please both purify and strengthen me Lord Jesus.  Please help me grown stronger in my faith so that in my heart and in my actions I am more like You.

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 

Anger is something that I struggle with, particularly with my family but also with my work.


My Prayer: Lord, You listen to me always and You are there always which is amazing because I often scorn You, deny You, and disobey You.  Please forgive me Lord Jesus.  Thank you for Your love and grace for me.  Please rid me of my sin, purify and transform me, and make me more like You.  Help me please be more quick to listen in all circumstances.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

When everything around us here on earth disappoints, we can be sure to look to Christ for a God that does not disappoint and He never will!  As evidence of this, He gives us the word of truth which provides renewal of the mind:

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:2)

My Prayer: Lord, You are greatness and Your gifts to me personally and to us Your children are great.  I think of the beauty of spring and the creation of earth and all that it is and I marvel at Your greatness and Your love of us that You provide this for Your children.  I am not deserving of such love.  I am a broken and sinful person Lord.  Forgive me that I exasperate my children even though You tell me not to...and my sin is SO much more.  Please forgive me Lord and rid me of my sin.  Please purify my heart and my life and transform to be more like You.  Help me glorify You Lord Jesus.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 

While verse 2 is of course the key verse here, another key verse is verse 13:

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 

The key here is recognize that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, the question we should be asking ourselves is not the extent to which we are being tempted or tested but refined....keeping in mind that God is using the circumstances for HIS glory and wants to better prepare you for HIS plan.

I am reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord, I am in awe of Your great works, whether it is Your natural creation on earth or in me as I have witnessed a true transformation of heart and in my life.  Yet I am not done and I know this.  I know that "perseverance [must] finish its work".  Forgive me for my fear of what trials I am to encounter and help me lean on You alone for strength and faith. 

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

  

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 

Of course I desire a strong faith in the face of evil, which I know exists.  Yet my prayer life is weak.  I have open time throughout the day which I fill with nonsense, and instead I should be filling with prayer.

I am reminded of Ephesians 5:15 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."  This is a warning to not fritter away our time here on earth - which I do.

My Prayer: Lord, Your love and grace for me I know are immense - because I am not deserving due to my sin.  You are deserving of and You command my love - which I don't always do due to my scattering of time.  Please I beg of you to forgive me Lord Jesus.  Rid me of this sin to waste such time...I desire to make the most use of my time here on earth so please help me with this - especially with prayer time Lord Jesus.  Transform my heart and my life and make me Yours in all ways.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Ephesians 6

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.  

I am not a slave but this passage still speaks to me as it should speak to all employees with earthly masters.

I am constantly nagging about this or that about my workplace and bottom line this is not right - even more so, it is sinful.

My Prayer: Lord, I know You have forgiven me for my sins and you will continue to do so but I also know this does not provide me with freedom to continue in sin.  I am thankful for the grace and love You freely give and I am not worthy of it.  Please forgive me for my lack of service to my own employer.  Please rid me of this sinful behavior and help me serve wholeheartedly - that I am to remember that I am serving Christ, not people.  Transform my heart and my life Lord.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word...

Ephesians 5

²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. 

I am filled with tension regarding the following verses:

 ²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ > for me this means I should serve the Lord in everything I do - be humble and glorify Him in all of my roles.  This is often difficult for me at work and I often fail here.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. >  for me this means I should prominently play the role of head of the household, particularly in spiritual matters.  In particular this verse:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word...

My Prayer:   Lord, You are great, holy, and mighty - and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am not worthy of such love, grace, and blessing - yet You provide it all the same.  Forgive me please for my weakness in my role as spiritual head of household...help me as Paul says "make [my wife] holy, cleansing her by washing of the word".  Give me strength Lord in this area.  Purify me of my weakness and selfishness and help me glorify You by performing the roles and duties as head of the household as You intend for me and all men.