Strength of Faith

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4

In the words of Dr. Dharius Daniels, faith is not just how hard you believe. Faith is about how long you believe. According to James 1:2-4, God tests our faith through time. Thus, faith is based not only on the "bigness" of our prayers. It is also based on the consistency of our prayers.

In other words, many of us get frustrated because we feel that God hasn't answered our prayer. But if we were to go back and examine our faith, we'd see that we haven't really prayed or believed that long. We've got big prayers but we haven't erected a structure that will sustain those prayers over time.

That's why Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and strength. The strength of our love of and faith in God is measured by our patience.

It's not just about how hard we believe. It's about how long we believe. Our faith is perfected, i.e. made perfect, through time.

God bless,
J.W.

Too Short (Part 2)

“'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” ~ Genesis 3:4-5

Perfectionism is a trick of the enemy to get us to fall out of alignment with God.

When we strive for perfection, what we're really striving for is to be God himself. That's the same mistake Eve made in the Garden.

The serpent dared her to eat the fruit in defiance of God (Genesis 3:1). He told her "God knows you will be like Him if you eat the fruit."

That single mistake caused a whole slew of ills for generations to come.

It should serve as a warning to us!

The minute we try to be God, we are out of alignment with Him. The Bible calls this sin. Perfectionism is sin.

More to come!

God bless,
J.W.

Too Short (Part 1)

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~ Romans 3:23-24

While we are to strive to be like Jesus, who was perfect, it's important that we balance and temper that striving with a recognition that we are not and will never be perfect.

We are called to be like Jesus, not to be Him.

The fact is, we will never measure up, no matter how hard we try.

And while we are called to give grace to others because of this, even more importantly, we should extend that same grace to ourselves - however imperfect, messed up, and weak we might be.

God wants you to strive to be like Jesus, but understand that you'll never measure up.

More to come!

God bless,

J.W.

People Pleasing (Part 2)

Originally published on 1/12/11

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." ~ Galatians 1:10 NIV

People-pleasing is a dangerous thing. It's a tiring experience. It often leads to stress and burnout in well-intentioned people. But even more than that, it's against God's will.

In Galatians 1, the Bible clearly makes the distinction between pleasing God and pleasing men. It suggests that it is impossible to achieve both. The choices we make on a daily basis may indirectly affect both, but our choices are always rooted in either one or the other. Fundamentally, we either act to please God or to please man.

Throughout your life, people will consistently tell you how to live it. But who would you rather take advice from - a perfect God or imperfect man?

God bless,
J.W.

Strength in Weakness

The most freeing thing about having a relationship with God is that I don’t have to know everything. I don’t have to pretend to be an expert on anything or front like I’ve got it all under control.

Why?

Because I know the One who actually does know everything, the One who is an expert on everything, the One who does have it all under control.

His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

God bless,
J.W.

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9