5 verses a day blogpost for today
So I decided to start in James. I was reading online that James is a good place to start for people to start studying the Bible, so this is where we will begin. I did read through the book of James with a friend once, and it was a good experience, so lets give it a shot! Opening prayer - Always pray before reading the word. Thank you Father, for being with me and comforting when I'm not feeling well. Thank you for friends and family that provide words of wisdom and encouragement when I forget to lean on You. Please forgive me for not trusting You like I should and help me to trust and love You more. Please be with me as I read your word, help me to grow to a deeper relationship with you through this experience and to manage my stress level. Thank You for all you are doing, Amen. Now, onto the word: James 1:1-5 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, the thou may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. How this applies to my life and my relationship with God Wow! I have really been going through some things lately, I'm looking for a new job and its hard to be patient when you aren't getting any responses. I really felt like God wanted to look for something new, and I don't understand why things aren't working out according to my plans....but thats just it, its MY plans that are failing, not God's plans. Since I am clearly lacking wisdom, I need to ask God for guidance as to what I should do and what HIS plans are, and He will give it to me! In the meantime, I need to be joyful (even if I'm not happy) that I am going through this time and keep believing (having faith) in God's plans for me. I need to develop patience with God's process and realize that He is using this time to get me ready for the plans and purposes He has for me. Closing prayer
First of all, thank You for helping me to know which book to start in, this was the perfect place to begin, it started hitting exactly what I needed right away! Lord You have always given me way more than I deserve and to speak right to the heart of my issues is so like You! Help me to remember that during times when I don't feel You near me. Please Lord, grant me wisdom about the situations I find myself in and the plans You have for my life. Help me to see what I am missing in your directions, or help me to be patient to let you work out the details or to work on me to prepare me for them. Help me not to complain when I don't see things moving fast enough, but to just pray to you when I am worried or afraid. Please come into my life everyday so that I can hear you clearly and do the things you want me to do. Help me trust you to take care of me, and let the stress go. I'm so sorry for all the doubts I've had. Please forgive me and increase my faith. Thank You Lord, Amen.
