Tag Archives: James 1:12

Perseveres Under Trial

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing - James 1:12 - Perseveres Under Trial - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing – James 1:12 – Perseveres Under Trial – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV)

Persevere Through Trials 

You are the only one that can make me able to persevere the trials of life. I don’t want to be one bit self-reliant or self-sufficient in the trials of life. I don’t want to allow myself to think that I can fend for myself through even the smaller trials in life. Why is that? Smaller trials have a way of becoming larger trials. I lack wisdom, especially when I am going through trials. I react. I make mistakes. I take missteps. I have often thought or said or done what was helpful when I have been in the midst of trials. I have regretted my thoughts and words and actions. I have had to go back and retrace my steps. I have had to try to unsay or undo what I have unwisely said or done. That isn’t easily said or done. Besides, going through smaller trials seems like a training ground for the larger trials in life that are sure to come. That’s true. So, I would rather rely on you upfront in every small and large trial in life. That sounds good to me. It sounds good to me too.

What will you ask me for when you are going through trials in life? I will ask you for wisdom. I will ask you for strength. I will ask you to give me all I will need to go through the trials of life. I will ask you to guide my life. I will ask you to guard my path. I will ask you to lead me to where I should go. I will ask you to give me what I should do. I will ask you to help me to form the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and actions of my life. Those are all very good requests that I will hear and answer as you come to rely on me.

How will you ask me for all that you need as you go through the trials of life? With a heart full of faith, I will ask you for your help. I will believe and not doubt. I will draw near to you and know with certainty that you will draw near to me. That is very good. I will hold on to you as I am certain that you will hold on to me. I will trust that you will guard and guide and protect my life as I keep on following you. I know that you will be with me every step of the way as I walk through the trials of life. You will help me in every way. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have not always understood trials in life. Sometimes, I have wondered what was going on and where you were when I was in the midst of a trial. Looking back, I can see you were with me to help me. Thank you for helping me to persevere through trials. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Blessing – James 1-12 – Perseveres Under Trial – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Crown Of Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - James 1:12 - Crown Of Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – James 1:12 – Crown Of Life – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV)

Trials And Tests

How have you been able to persevere and withstand the trials and tests of life? I’m not sure how to answer that question. Why is that? I’m not sure if I really have persevered and withstood the trials and tests of life. How can you think and say that?  Am I wrong? Yes, you are wrong. You may not have passed all the trials and tests of life in a way that most benefited you. But, you are here right now talking to me. You haven’t run away. You haven’t abandoned your faith. You have held on to me through all the trials and tests that you have faced in life. I could have held on to you a little more tightly. I could have relied on you a little more completely. Yes, that is true. 

What has happened to you as you have taken a hold of my promises? Your promises have sustained and strengthened me. Your promises have given me hope. Your promises have given me joy even in the midst of trials and tests in life. Your promises have helped me to persevere and withstand whatever trail and test that has come my way. Most of all my love for you has grown as I have relied on you and your promises. Do these words of yours sound like someone that has not been persevering and withstanding the trials and tests of life? I guess not. Guess again. No, these are the words of a person who has been sustained and strengthened by you. Yes, that’s right.

Where have I been when you have been in the midst of the trials and tests in life? You have been right there with me in the middle of my trials and tests. It has taken a long time and many trials and tests for me to realize that I have never been alone. Maybe that has been the real test. Say more about that. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to teach me to trust you. Maybe my trails and tests have been meant for me to rely on your strength. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to develop my relationship with you. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to cause me to look to you and the future I will have forever in heaven with you. That’s a lot of maybe, are you really that uncertain? No, I am certain that all my trials and tests have and were meant to accomplish all these purposes.

Do you wish that you wouldn’t have had so many trials and tests in life? That’s a difficult question to answer. Why is that? I have never been a fan of trials and tests. They have been painful for me to endure. But, if I had not gone through so many trials and tests I would trust and rely on you less. If I had not gone through so many trials and tests I wouldn’t know you like I do. If I had not gone through so many trials and tests I would not have my eyes so focused on my life forever in heaven with you. Most of all, if I hadn’t gone through so many trails and tests I might not love you as much as I do. You have been with me to help me through every trail and test in life. Yes, I have been.

Lord, I love you. I know you love me. I am certain that you will help me to persevere and withstand the trials and tests of life. Sustain and strengthen me as I joyfully hold on to you and your promises through trials and tests in life. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Life – James 1-12 – Crown Of Life – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship study guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com