Pointing to Jesus

James 1:2-4,12 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

We all go through hard, difficult, and challenging seasons in our lives. During these times, we may be tempted to believe that God is not working or that He doesn’t care. That’s what the enemy wants us to believe. From the above verses, we can know and rest assured that God has a purpose and a plan  for these difficult seasons.  He wants us to grow through them as we go through them.

How do we find the strength and fortitude to  hold on to and  stay with Jesus and not stray from Him during these times in our lives? Below are 4 ways that will help us stay and not stray.

1. Stay Humble- Remember and recognize that everything we have in this life comes from God and not from us. Be grateful for all of it and glorify Him. We need to keep  God at the top of everything in our lives and everything else beneath Him. None of us have everything figured out, so we look to the One who does. We stay close to Him. We cry out to Him. We look to His Word. Micah 6:8- He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves

2. Stay Hungry for God and His Word – We don’t let a day go by that we don’t talk to God or read His Word, the Bible, especially during difficult times. Dont stop seeking Him. Don’t stop searching for answers in the Bible. Don’t stop going to church. Matthew 5:6- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Psalm 63:1–
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 107:9 – For He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul, He fills with good things.

3. Stay Holy- Strive to live a righteous and sanctified life everyday. Strive to be obedient to God and His Word. I Peter 1:15,16– but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 2 Corinthians 7:1– Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Matthew 6:33-
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

4. Stay Hopeful– When we know Jesus and have committed our lives to serve and follow Him, we can hold on to the hope that is in Him. He is our hope. We have the hope of heaven. Nothing lasts forever except eternity. Make sure you’re spending eternity with Him. If you’re not sure, please read my first blog entitled, First Things First“. Romans 12:12- Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. I Peter 1;3– Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We won’t do all of this perfectly, but we can do them purposefully. God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does expect progress.

Let’s remember that pain has a purpose, we can trust God in the trials, and God is our hope in the hurt. God never leaves us alone, and the Holy Spirit is our helper.

                  STAY, DONT STRAY!

Many blessings,

Desiree