DCLM Sincere Milk 9 June 2022 — Trials make you strong
DCLM Sincere Milk 9 June 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Trials make you strong
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TRIALS MAKE YOU STRONG
BIBLE TEXT: JAMES 1:1-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
KEY VERSE: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3).
A Christian author wrote thus: “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Trials and troubles are common and normal experiences that friends of Jesus pass through at one time or another. The three innocent Hebrew children – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, are examples of suffering for righteousness’ sake.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, threw them into a fiery furnace, thinking to terminate their lives. Did the fire kill them? The answer is ‘No!’ Rather, the flame killed those that threw them in the fire. Somehow, God made the furnace comfortable for them. Trials do not harm or kill believers; rather, they build them up and make them strong.
Trials come to believers in different ways. It can be in the form of persecutions, sicknesses, troubles, difficulties, academic failures, to mention just a few. Whichever way trials come, you must respond with the right attitude of patience and faith in God.
Do not speak evil of anyone, or wish any evil on yourself. Do not be dejected or cast down, but rather rejoice and understand that God probably allowed such a situation to bring out the best in you. When trials come, face them boldly with faith in God, and pray for grace and wisdom to carry you through. The grace of God is sufficient for every child of God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to face the trials of life with patience and faith in You.
FURTHER READING: 2 Peter 1:6-9
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
