Count It All Joy
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing"
(James 1:2-4, NLT).
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria Osteen
When troubles come, it's not natural to get excited about them. Most people don't say, "Thank you, Lord, for this overwhelming challenge." You don't go to the mailbox and joyfully exclaim, "Oh thank God–an unexpected bill!" But notice what happens when we remain joyful during the difficult times–it sets us on a course to maturity so that we can receive everything God has for us.
Remember that the key to growing is how you handle adversity. If you complain, you will remain. If you get negative and sour on life, you won't pass the test. Promotion is available, but if you don't count it all joy, you miss out. The good news is that God will give you another opportunity. He can still get you to where you need to be. When somebody offends you, you have to decide that you aren't going to be upset. When things aren't going your way, instead of complaining, thank the Lord for an opportunity to grow. Count it all joy so that you can be all God has called you to be!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You so much for the work You are doing in my life. Even when I don't understand what's going on, I choose to trust you. I choose to count it all joy knowing You have a good plan for me. In Jesus.. Name. Amen.
"count it all joy"
"O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is BETTER than life,my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands." Psalms 63
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