#First21 - Day 8

Today's Reading: James chapter 1

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (vs 1-5)

As we begin the second week of our fast together, let us look at the War Room Strategy of 'Perseverence'

As Christians we know that throughout our journey, we will have 'troubles'. This first chapter in the book of James has many convicting challenges within it. It begins by instructing us on how to deal with our trials and tribulations. It tells us to consider them 'pure joy'. But for those of us who are 'going through', these 'troubles' are anything but joy. Yet, we can 'consider' them and KNOW that even these will be used by God to 'test' our faith. What does it mean to 'test' our faith?

The word testing here is dokímion which means by implication a testing

of trustworthiness. That by which something is tried or 'proven'. It is a word used to describe a 'crucible' or furnace used for smelting of metals, in particular gold, as part of the process of removing dross and purifying the metal. A clearer description of this process is used in I Peter 1:7:

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ"

And what is the purpose of this 'testing'?....To produce patience (perseverence). Patience is the ancient Greek word hupomone: hupo meaning (under) and meno (to stay, abide, remain). In other words it means to abide under (psalm 91) the pressure of 'press'. This 'patience' is not a passive waiting, but an active endurance. It's not the kind that helps you sit quietly in the doctor's waiting room but rather the kind of endurance that helps you finish a marathon.

Trials don't produce faith, but when trials are received with faith, it produces patience. If difficulties are received in unbelief and grumbling, trials then produce bitterness and discouragement. This is why James exhorts us to count it all joy.

Counting it all joy is faith's response to a time of trial. Therefore, when this 'testing work' is done, the scripture tells us it causes us to be 'mature'. In other words, it comes to 'grow' us up and produce in us a faith that has gone through and broken through. It has survived being under pressure, losing the dross of unbelief, impatience, of doubt, of fear and has come through the other side....trust worthy and purified, matured and 'lacking nothing, able to stand and give testimony and 'proof' of God's victory! When we 'persevere', we bring about a change in the atmosphere through the submission of will to God's ways. The things that the enemy tried to use against us are now work for us. That circumstance that tried to crush is now is being used as a tool in God's hands to bring out the aroma of Christ in us. What was supposed to have us 'curse' God is now causing us to 'seek Him' with our whole heart. These things cause us to draw closer to God and therefore bring us closer to Christ. It causes us to Trust in Him and lean not on our own understanding and acknowledge Him...and that my friend is maturity.

WarRoom Strategy/Prayer Focus: This week, as you reflect on what the Lord is saying to you during this prayer/fast, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the areas of your life where 'perseverence' needs to be perfected in you, then raise up a Prayer of Praise, declare a Song of Victory over that area as God works to complete it! #WarRoom #WeaponsofWar