Scripture: James 1:2-18
"Trials and Temptations"
The Lord instructs me:
My faith is constantly being tested by God because He desires for me to be complete and full of wisdom. His intention is for me to seek true wisdom and, in the process, discover a deeper connection with Him. He seeks to shape my mind, removing any childishness and naivety within me. The voices that persistently probe and insert encoded messages into my mind treat me as if I were an oracle (Jeremiah 23:9-40). This puts me in a challenging position, as I bear their shame and disgrace in my thoughts. However, God rebukes them whenever I open His timeless Word, surpassing their limited predictive abilities.
In my defense, God reminds them that He alone grants and perfects wisdom, bestowing it upon everyone without finding fault. There are moments when I am tempted to doubt whether God will protect me from the plans of the evil one. These negative voices continually play scenarios in my mind, depicting their desire to destroy me and the world. They arrogantly imagine a wrathful judgment upon us, as if they can escape it. Yet, God and His faithful servants urge me not to succumb to the doubts planted in my mind and heart (DEW/V2K/RNM).
It is true that when doubt creeps in, I can become discouraged and fearful of the tumultuous thoughts swirling within me. Nevertheless, God instructs me not to imitate their double-mindedness and not to be shaken by the instability they bring through their manufactured and manipulated thoughts. In the face of these trials, God encourages me to strengthen my faith through perseverance. As my faith is severely tested, I persist in carrying out God's work in my life. My efforts contribute to the greater fight in the spiritual battle that rages within this troubled world. The devil may seek to exploit me, but God always turns the tables to thwart him, using me for His divine purposes. His power surpasses that of the people and principalities that exert control over this world.
God impresses upon my mind that my humble circumstances position me in a place of great faith, and thus, I should take pride in my suffering for the sake of Christ. Through these circumstances, I can boast about the Lord and testify to His greatness in my life. He has become my comforter, healer, defender, Father, friend, and lover of my soul— a soul that the devil desperately desires to claim. Simultaneously, He reminds me that the wealthy are brought low, allowing them to realize that all their amassed wealth, honor, fortune, fame, knowledge, and power will fade away. This presents an opportunity for them to humble themselves before the Lord, and in that, they should find pride.
God encourages me to persevere, stand firm, and continue to love Him, even in the midst of severe testing, so that I may receive the crown of life. I acknowledge that He blesses and upholds me as I endure the judgment of man.
It is important to note that God does not tempt us. Temptation comes from the evil one. God urges me to guard my desires because they can give birth to sin, which ultimately leads to spiritual death. The voices may deceive, but God reminds me that only good comes from Him. He is not like the shadowy figures who shapeshift, but rather, He is the Father of heavenly lights— the source of all goodness that I hold onto. Through His truth-filled Word, He breathes life into me, allowing me to be born anew as one of His most magnificent creations.
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