Saturday, February 20, 2016

The Value of Trials: A Study on the Book of James

Image Credit: Ben White - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Our prayer lives improve when we go through trials.

How to Pray Through Trials

1. Ask God for wisdom.

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

It is not wrong to ask God for things. In fact, we’re told to ask God for things, especially wisdom.

Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-10

It pleases God when we ask for wisdom.

Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. Wisdom is knowing God’s perspective and insight. Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge to our lives. Knowledge can fail us without wisdom.

We will never get God’s wisdom until we know God personally.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. – Ephesians 1:17

Pray Ephesians 1:17 for your children and grandchildren.

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

2. Believe God when we ask.

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. – James 1:6

If we doubt that God will give us wisdom, he won’t give it.

For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. – James 1:7

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

3. Watch God work.

God does his deepest work when we are in a trial.

During a trial, we grow closer to Jesus.

Trials open our eyes. We might see that our prayer life has suffered. We might see that we have been spending less time in God’s Word. We might see that we have become spiritually lazy.

*He washes our eyes with tears so that we can see better.”

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – James 1:12

Let God mature us through our trials. Pray through our trials.