James 1:2-8 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  ⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I encountered several misunderstandings in Bible interpretation prevalent in the church. It troubled me that I, too, have been guilty.  I will address some of them as I lay out what captivated my heart today.

If we read James 1:2-8 in a cursory reading without deeper thought, we come away with a misconception that trials automatically enable us to endure. In the whole of Scripture, we are taught that we repeat the tests until we pass them, and that produces the ability and desire to endure.  Trials have a purpose; they are not random attacks.

Endurance brings us to a new level of spiritual maturity that opens the storehouse of God’s wisdom and gives no breeding ground for doubt.  Doubt is a dam in the pipeline and springs forth from having two minds (Focus is the key).   It is impossible for faith and trust to thrive in a seedbed that is on God one moment and the flesh the next; that is being Double-minded.

The source of temptation is the self.   In verse 15, we read, “Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full-grown, it gives birth to death.”   You can’t have conception without copulation. Keep that in mind.  James 2 speaks of faith and works. If we can receive it, faith, by its definition, demands action.   Faith (trust implemented) is an active application of the word.

There is more, but I offer this in conclusion: You have not because you ask not.   This verse is, in my view, misapplied.  We make it about general praying and answers to prayer. Consider the context.

Conflicts and quarrels, discord and disharmony are conditions that can only exist where the flesh rules and influences.  The implied question was, “How do we have peace and harmony? Why don’t we have it?”   The response was, because…

Because we are either not asking for God’s help from a surrendered heart, or our motives are impure. You want peace and harmony your way!   It is

not genuine peace but peace that gets you your way. It is selfishness!

Pride is one of our biggest obstacles in life.  To be an overcomer, we must submit to God Everything!   We must pursue God with our whole heart.  The promise is that if we make God our goal, He makes us His.  In that state of surrender, we are to and can resist the devil, and because of our authority and identity, he has to and will run like a scared jackrabbit.

The Promise and Provision are ours; receive them.   Keep looking; redemption is drawing near!

1 Samuel 30:6 – “David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the Lord his God.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, the rubber met the road in my heart and mind.   I began in 1 Samuel 30:6, where in a difficult time, “David drew strength from the LORD His God.”   

That was his key and our pathway to becoming who God designed us to be.    We try and try and try and fail because our strength, wisdom, ability, or position can never prevail over the forces of darkness and life’s challenges.   But we try!  We keep trying to be by doing.   We eat from the wrong tree!

In Hebrews 11:1, we have a simple definition or explanation of faith.   We make it mystical or magical and succumb to the pride of self-producing.  Faith IS!

Faith is what?   Faith is being sure (certain) of what we hope for.  The question is, what do we hope for?  What do we long for?  What do we crave?   What is God’s Promise?  

Faith is being convinced (unshakably certain and confident) of what we do not see.  It is a matter of: God said that it’s not visible, but because God said it, we see it, believe it, expect it, and receive it.   Convinced!   Unshakably certain. 

Hebrews 11 is a record or reminder of God’s faithfulness and the fruit of trust and obedience even when you can’t see it!   Consider the power, purpose, and benefit of discipline.    What does that have to do with faith?  Everything!   Discipline molds us into His image, and in that relationship, faith is the air we breathe.   Hebrews 12:7 – “Endure your suffering as discipline.”   No, every trial is not chastisement, but there is a lesson in every trial.

Hebrews 13 begins with Paul’s final instructions on how to live and live in faith.  Love one another and be hospitable (opens the door to divine encounters).  Focus on others, not just our needs, for that is the heart of Jesus.   Then, out of the blue, he inserts the sanctity of marriage and marital intimacy.  Why?   To remind us that human marriage is a type of our relationship with Christ and to defile that is to trample Christ’s blood underfoot. 

Hebrews 13:8 is not a standalone verse.  Jesus is the same eternally; therefore, we must live in purity because He is eternally pure and our example.   He is our pattern. 

Hebrews 13:20-21 – Through Christ Be!   Take all your sins, baggage, doubts, and fears outside the camp and nail them to the Cross.  

Don’t be an Esau and sell out for anything.   What will we sell out for?  A drink, a drug, a fling, a dollar?  What?   Nothing is worth our eternal soul.  Therefore, no discipline is too harsh.  Only Jesus!

LORD, You are our strength; help us to learn to draw strength from You!

1 Samuel 11:6 – “The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.”

1 Samuel 15:10-11 – “Then the Lord’s message came to Samuel: ¹¹ “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” Samuel became angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, my heart overflowed. Many things tugged at my heart as reminders and challenges.  Uncontrolled anger is destructive, but Holy Spirit-induced anger is constructive. 1 Samuel 11:6 & 15:11.

Explicit Obedience is the only acceptable response to God.  In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, this is made glaringly clear. God equates ignoring or disobeying His commands with rebellion and compares it to divination and witchcraft. It is rejected. It cost Saul the kingdom.

The Anointing brings empowerment to serve!  1 Samuel 16:12-13, “The Spirit of the LORD rushed on David from that day forward.”   The word rushed means to be empowered!

The focus is the foundation of faith.   Faith enables us to perform the purposes of God.  1 Samuel 17:32-42, David & Goliath operated with two opposing focuses. Goliath viewed things in the natural; David viewed things in the supernatural. Goliath focused on his ability; David on God’s.

The key is what we focus on. David’s focus gave him faith, which enabled him to declare the finish from the start. (1 Samuel 17:45-47.)   We can’t have the faith needed to fulfill God’s purposes if we focus incorrectly or divide our focus. David declared the end before the battle began. He went into battle victorious. How do we go in? Most go hopeful and even wishful, not assured!

Focus is the seedbed for faith.  Faith is the fuel for the fight.  Hebrews 10:35-36 reminds us that we have to finish the race to receive the prize. Focus enables and inspires us to persevere to the end!

LORD, help us to become inspired to be angry at the things we should be angry at and focus on the task at hand!

1 Samuel 7:3 – “Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was challenged with the thought of responsibility and perseverance. Accepting responsibility for our actions is not always easy. To keep on moving forward and trusting when the goal appears impossible, or the delay is lengthy, is extremely hard.

Samuel told Israel (1 Samuel 7:3), IF you are really turning to God with your whole heart THEN…  Personal responsibility demands perseverance.  Here’s what you do, not what God does, what you do (with God’s help, of course). It is up to you and me!

• First, remove all foreign gods (we have them). We don’t call them gods and don’t give them status as idols, but we serve them, or they control us. (Attitude, greed, covetousness, anger, bitterness, pleasure, position, etc.). Remove Them!
• Give your hearts to God and serve Him only.   It is a twofold action on our part: Remove something and put on something.

What we must grasp is who Jesus is, the resources available, and our responsibility. Hebrews 1:3-4 reveals that Jesus is the very essence of God. Hebrews 2:17 reveals that He was fully man (made like humans in every respect). He was fully man while fully God.   He is our example. He did it as man for man!

Hebrews 2:10 is fascinating.  God made Jesus (the pioneer-trailblazer of Salvation) perfect through (by or in) sufferings. Jesus’ completeness as a man was developed through trials. He is our example!  Then in Hebrews 2:14-15, through death, Jesus destroyed death and the devil. He set us free from the fear of death. He removed uncertainty!

Hebrews 4:14-16, we discover the amazing and liberating truth that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are! Yet, He did it without succumbing to it – NO SIN! He persevered. He accepted His personal responsibility.

We have Jesus IN us to live THROUGH us, which enables us to live the life He lived.  Additionally, we have something else He had – the ministry of angels and the fullness of the Holy Spirit!

Hebrews 4:12-13 gives an understanding of why the Word of God is so valuable. It is God-breathed, alive, and active. Its light reveals the heart, and it surgically exposes and removes the damaged parts.

Our hope of success is to acknowledge our responsibility for our actions, thoughts, and lives. Our hope is total surrender whereby we receive the help of the angels and the Holy Spirit AND refuse to give up. We persevere. Endure to the end and win!

LORD, inspire us to accept our responsibility and follow You!

Judges 16:4-5 – “After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. ⁵ The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, “Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will give you 1,100 silver pieces.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the revelation of the true heart filled my thoughts. Before we address that, remember this: the devil will send people into your life whose singular purpose is to find the weak link to defeat you.  Judges 16:4-5 is an example with Samson and Delilah. She was a hired destroyer.

In Titus 1:15-16, this truth of exposing the true heart is revealed.  To the pure, all is pure. To the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure.  A corrupted mind and conscience may profess God, but the deeds reveal the heart.  The walk speaks louder than the talk. The acts don’t lie, but the mouth may!

In Titus 2:11-13, we have a powerful revelation of the work of grace in life. It brings salvation (wholeness) to all.  All who will accept and receive it. It trains us to do several things: reject godless ways and worldly desires. It trains us to live self-controlled and godly in this world. It trains us to wait for Jesus!

If our hearts are pure and Grace trains us, the Faith of Grace works in us powerfully. Philemon 6 is powerful. “I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of Every Blessing that Belongs to You in Christ.” Grace Faith reveals the Work of the Cross!  That revelation transforms the heart, and through that transformation, we are justified and become heirs of God. What does an heir have? Everything that belongs to the testator of the will.

We need to examine our hearts by evaluating our actions. Our walk is more powerful than our talk. We examine our hearts by honestly examining our actions and intent. It’s not just what we do but why we do it.

LORD, help us to be aware of potential hired assassins sent by hell to shipwreck our call and commission.