Count It All Joy...

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

As a child of God, you should have uncontrollable joy when you face temptations… I know there are some reading this right now with a big mental question mark as to why or even how am I suppose to be delighted when I am tempted… The answer lies further in the text as we come to know that temptations show us the areas of our lives that we need to mature in as well as the areas in which we have grown… When we are faced with choices that go against the will of God, we as children of the most high must observe these snares as the glass being half full instead of being half empty… The glass being half full means that we embrace these temptations and find joy in knowing that we can be thankful that we are not where we use to be… The things that I use to give into I can now overcome, the situations that use to break me now make me and mold me into what God’s purpose is for my life… The glass half full says that there is something left in the cup as oppose to the half empty approach which says that there isn’t enough… I don’t know what category you fall into; however, I can help you come to know where you stand depending on how you look at life… Do you embrace a challenge or do you run from it? Do you stand on your faith in the midst of a storm or do you fold under the pressure…? James wants you to know that there is a reason behind everything that you endure and you may not understand it now, but when you count if all joy you are sure to make it through the storm and come out better than you were going in… Every level you reach in life takes more effort to achieve… Middle school is harder than elementary school, but doesn’t compare to high school which isn’t even close to the level of college… The higher level of education you reach, the more you are required to discipline yourself to achieve it… This same principle applies to Christ and your faith; God has plan for your life, a level designed specifically for you; however, it is ultimately up to you whether or not you reach it and this passage lets us know that you will reach it and complete the work if you learn to “count it all joy…” If you are thankful that you have roof over you head even though it may not be the mansion you desire than you are the person that is being spoken of in this passage… When your faith is tested, the enemy doesn’t want to see you go higher, but you can count it all joy because you know that if he is tempting you that means you are on the right path… I once heard someone say, “Satan isn’t worried about those in the world because he already has them…” To be tempted means that you are being enticed, lured or persuaded… So in order to be tempted you must be doing something that someone doesn’t like… We know that the enemy wants to see you fail, so if he is tempting you, you must not be failing (I believe a shout of praise fits right in here)…

You can fulfill what James says today and see the glass half full and have the joy in your heart to press on because you know that your latter will be greater than your former… You’re not digging a deeper ditch, your coming out of your trench… You can have joy when you face temptation because you are being molded, God is transforming you and the devil is sick and disgusted of what is going on in your life… I find joy in just knowing that the enemy is upset and confused… I embrace the trials because I know that He is trying to stop my progression and actually is simply adding fuel to my divine destiny… The testing of your faith should be received with open arms as this displays God’s faithfulness and transformation of your life… You can look back and know that something has changed in you because of the temptations you face…  James reminds us that we should take pleasure in our temptations; he states that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials and tribulations. Why is it that James tells us this, why is it that he says we need to smile when we are tested and not become fearful or reserve? It is because the testing of your faith working patience’s which will ultimately leads to your perfection in the will of God. Understand that trials come to those who are walking in the will of God; Satan doesn’t need to tempt those who are already walking in darkness, so we should understand that when trials come it ensures us that we are walking in the light of God. Also, we must remember that we came into this world as sinners (raw gold) and we must be tried (enter the fire) to be purified for our true and wonderful purpose. Jesus will never put more on you than you can bare, but he will have to develop certain characteristics in you so that you can become the child that he ordained you to be… You trials serve a purpose in your greatness, you can’t stand without falling, you can’t give a testimony without adversity, and you can’t live unless you die… Your death (of the flesh) is what your trials are for, Christ is killing off the sin that has surrounded your heart and is molding you according to His God pleasure!  James says that when this obstacle has run its course and you have withstood your trials, temptations, and tribulations that you will be wanting nothing… This brings joy to my heart to know that when we endure the hardships we will find rest for our souls, we will have peace within and we will be able to depend on God even more knowing that He has brought us out of the storms and rains that we faced. God is equipping you for a special work; He is preparing you for greatness and the devil knows that… So be happy when the TEMPTER comes, because that lets you know that you are on the right path and every stumbling block he lies will be a stepping stone to your divine perfection!!!

BE BLESSED!!!