Count it all Joy

It may be hard to believe but the summer is moving so quickly that if you blink you may miss it. Maybe its just me but I think time is really moving at a faster pace. It is easy to get caught up with the everyday things of life so that life can bog you down. Life has a way of getting the best of you and if you are not spiritually prepared for what may come your way you could find yourself becoming depressed and down in life.

I learned along time ago that living for Jesus is a good life. It is according to the scripture a light and easy yoke that you take on you from Jesus. However, sometimes you can feel a little overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. I like what James said in James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Notice that we are to count it joy when we fall into different kinds of trials or tests. Now most of us do not look at it in that manner but if you catch verse three you will begin to have some joy when testings and trials come. Notice the word says that the trying of our faith works patients. That means that if you have trials and tests going on, it is because you have faith! When you have no faith there is nothing to contend for. But because you have faith then a time of testing and trial will come to you. When this test and trial does come you should have joy because you are exercising your faith and with patients your faith will being the victory.

The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. That is clear enough. But consider this. The person who has faith and chooses not to exercise it will also find themselves in the category of not pleasing God. It is only when faith is exercise and contended for that we find ourselves in a position to please the Father. Faith and patients go hand in hand. The trying of your faith produces patients and it is through faith and patients that we inherit the promises.

I think in today's environment we need to encourage each other to hold on to our confession of faith and not give up so easily. I know that in today's world there seems to be no hope given to people with wars, rumors of wars, economic hardship, disease, famine and disasters created by nature and man. But if we will know in whom we have believed and know that he is able we will keep our faith stirred up and our patients will bring us the reward we are desiring.

Bottom line: KEEP THE JOY AND EXERCISE YOUR FAITH.