[july]
Endurance Through Trials

How do we handle hardships? What is our attitude? Do we:
  • Gripe about the trials?
  • Want to escape quickly, take the easy way out?
  • Want to do things our way when the Lord doesn’t answered soon enough?
  • Or, are we willing to trust Him to help us stay through the hardships until they end (whenever)?

The Lord Jesus understands how difficult our lives are. But He wants us to endure because our fellowship with Him will grow sweeter, and the final results will be wholeness and fullness of joy.

  • He is not absent
  • He wants to help
  • He cares
  • He wants us to trust him

We can persevere because the Lord loves us, has abundant life for us now, is growing us to be more like Him, and has a crown of life waiting for us in heaven. 

WEEKLY PRAYER PROMPTS

WEEK 1
Ask for wisdom
Do you ever wonder where God is when you are struggling, and how to get through the hardships?

But if any of you lacks wisdom, ask of God, who gives to all generously and without rebuke and it will be given to you – James 1:5.

WEEK 2
Love Yourself
Do you really love yourself?
Do you think that Scriptures command us to love ourselves?
Isn’t that self-centered?

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well – James 2:8.

To love our neighbors as ourselves means we are to love them as if they are us.  We love as Jesus loves.

WEEK 3
He gives more grace
Ever messed up and wondered if you are forgiven?

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you – James 4:7-8a

WEEK 4
Sing, Pray, and Accomplish Much
When you are not feeling well or you have blown it, do you rejoice, talk to someone, or just want to be alone?

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him in the name of the Lord, and the prayer offered in faith will restore that one who is sick, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much. – James 5:12-16