Day 1 - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
Day 1 - James 1:1-4
SCRIPTURE:
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
LESSON:
Each year I am amazed at the testing that happens during our twenty one days of prayer and fasting. Every year I brace myself for it and every year I still find myself surprised at the difficulties I find myself facing each and every day of my fast. Especially at the start of the fast. I have so many good intentions and it's as if a nuclear bomb goes off in my life! Nothing goes as planned! All of my good intentions seem to be run over by the reality of crazy that crops up on a daily, even hourly basis. Have you ever experienced anything like this?
Perhaps you have started on a new path with God, striving to draw closer to Him. Or maybe you have started a new job or a new ministry endeavor or a new something or other… and it just seems like you face nothing but opposition and problems! Well let me give you the good news!
Here it is. Right there in verses two through four. You can embrace the trials and tribulations with JOY! Why? Because testing makes us stronger. It makes us better. It makes us more like Jesus. As the old saying goes, “No pain, no gain!”
“The testing of your faith produces patience.” (vs.3) This is what testing does. It produces something in us… but the key is actually in verse four. “But let patience have its perfect work…” We have to embrace what God is trying to do in our lives if we want to to see the outcome of that work. “...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” So this first day of your prayer and fasting, get ready for what God wants to do in your life. Don’t shy away from what’s coming. There are some trials coming your way. But instead of dreading them and giving up when they arrive; embrace them with JOY! Knowing full well that they are part of God’s process, lean into them and let God do what He does!
Each year I am amazed at the testing that happens during our twenty one days of prayer and fasting. Every year I brace myself for it and every year I still find myself surprised at the difficulties I find myself facing each and every day of my fast. Especially at the start of the fast. I have so many good intentions and it's as if a nuclear bomb goes off in my life! Nothing goes as planned! All of my good intentions seem to be run over by the reality of crazy that crops up on a daily, even hourly basis. Have you ever experienced anything like this?
Perhaps you have started on a new path with God, striving to draw closer to Him. Or maybe you have started a new job or a new ministry endeavor or a new something or other… and it just seems like you face nothing but opposition and problems! Well let me give you the good news!
Here it is. Right there in verses two through four. You can embrace the trials and tribulations with JOY! Why? Because testing makes us stronger. It makes us better. It makes us more like Jesus. As the old saying goes, “No pain, no gain!”
“The testing of your faith produces patience.” (vs.3) This is what testing does. It produces something in us… but the key is actually in verse four. “But let patience have its perfect work…” We have to embrace what God is trying to do in our lives if we want to to see the outcome of that work. “...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” So this first day of your prayer and fasting, get ready for what God wants to do in your life. Don’t shy away from what’s coming. There are some trials coming your way. But instead of dreading them and giving up when they arrive; embrace them with JOY! Knowing full well that they are part of God’s process, lean into them and let God do what He does!
PRAYER:
Father, we ask that you use this time in our lives to make us more like you. Help us to lean into the trials that may come. Please use them to make us better Christians. More like you. We will be faithful to give you all the praise, WITH JOY! AMEN!
Father, we ask that you use this time in our lives to make us more like you. Help us to lean into the trials that may come. Please use them to make us better Christians. More like you. We will be faithful to give you all the praise, WITH JOY! AMEN!
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2025
Posted in prayer, fasting, 2025, James, the book of James, suffering, joy
Posted in prayer, fasting, 2025, James, the book of James, suffering, joy
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With a request to be more like Christ, presents the opportunity to do so through trying situations in our life. Count it all joy!