Who I Am In Christ Devotionals

  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NKJV) Not a Forgetful Hearer I am blessed by God's grace. And I ask Him for it. I must shower in the Word. I must read and pray in the Spirit, asking the Holy Spirit to teach me as I read. Alright, I can do that. I can look into the perfect law of liberty. "...is not a forgetful hearer..." Uh, I obviously need to confess. I am often a forgetful hearer. It hurts to admit it. Still, I'm hopeful. Because in His sanctifying work, He is doing it in me. I see it. I am being built up. I am remembering. I do some of what I hear. Okay, so I need to hear it 25 times before it begins to sink in! That's why I must soak in the Word over and over and over.  "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Forgiving and Gracious I must read it. Hear it preached. Read the works of godl...

  Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love. - 1 Cor 16:13-14 The Lord Asking Too Much Many times I have read scripture and felt that the Lord was asking too much of me. What an arrogant position for me to take! Why arrogant? Because He has told me over and over that He is with me. Over and over. He has never said that I could only depend on Him after I proved myself. This does not mean that I am an instantly mature believer. Of course not. I have much to learn and experience. But every day, He tells me to come. With all of my dirt. And wash, and to walk in the light. Like when I took gymnastics, doing backbends, and the coach was right there with his hand at the small of my back, keeping me supported. I step out, but He does it. First, the verse tells me to be alert. I thought I was Mr. Alert. I got this, I told the Lord. And He lovingly, removed His support as I was horribly deceived.  Be Courageous When I realized it, w...

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.    James 1:12 There are days when I feel like I have no weapon against temptation. I give in over and over. Every worldly sparkle catches my eye. I think it starts because I give in on something I think is small. I let my temper flare. Or I boasted about something. Or I took a quick look when I shouldn't have.  Or I invite Hollywood, or rock and roll in to teach me. I think - I got this. I can turn it off if it gets bad, or I'm not going to behave like the guy in the song.  I don't got this.  And I don't behave just like him. But because I've been listening to it, I want to. And now I'm struggling. And I forget that I invited this in.  Now, I have a fight on my hands. I'm muddy and wounded.  (Yet, He is still with me.) And sometimes, I think - What's the point in fighting, I'm just going to los...

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV Temptation is not sin. I get tempted. Everyone does. It is part of the fabric of being human, even for believers. And I might think that this temptation is unique to me. That I need to work my way through it in my own way.  That's just my pride. "I got this. No one can help me." When I try to work it, I end up feeling hopeless. Feeling that others can live a victorious Christian life, but not me.  I have year upon year of trying to break through my own temptation and sin.  But wait... He doesn't let me get tempted beyond my ability. "Yes He does!" I secretly think.  I'm wrong. I know, because when I look at how giving in to my sin happened, I see patterns of thought and even "smaller" sins tha...

  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 A believer believes God. I am a believer. When I hear God's word, there is confirmation in my heart that this is true. Still, I forget or ignore what God has to say (Lord, help me). Just because I am a Child of God, does not mean that God makes all things easy. In fact, sometimes it is the opposite. Things get harder than I can bear. But I can bear it. I can.  There are all kinds of trials. And a lot of them are home grown in my own heart. I can plant and water a lie in my mind, or maybe it is even demonically planted there, either way, I can tend that lie like it's a precious fruit.  And then, I read the word and know it for what it is. And God pulls that lie out like a weed. There are also trials that come from family. Hurt people, hurt peopl...

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.   James 1:19   God loves me. He bought me with a price. I am a grateful follower of Him. I serve Him. And I can trust that the scriptures are meant for me. Today.  I have been having an issue with anger. Flashes of anger. And I'm tempted to define myself by that anger. Oh, I have difficult situations at work. Anyone would get angry, right? But He says I am a new creature. The anger has been a stronghold. But He heals. Especially when I start admitting it and confessing it to Him.  And He wants me to ask Him for help. Over and over again when necessary.  He wants me to be quick to hear. That's patience. I can be patient today.  He wants me to be slow to speak. That's calm. I can be calm today.  He wants me to be slow to anger. Peaceful. Today.  This is who I am in Him. Even if I have been s...