Perseverance Perspective...

First perseverance, then the prize!Sometimes we forget and want the Prize now! James 1:2-8Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. The testing of our faith produces perseverance!I used to subconsciously equate the word 'testing' with physical trialssuch as sickness, death, natural disasters etc.but in the phrase 'trials of many kinds' one I had not considereduntil perhaps the past few years,and one that has many once confessed believers denying their faith,is the fact that because our minds cannot explain or reconcileGod's thoughts and ways and commands (whether in the Old Testament or in this age of love and holiness misunderstood)disillusionment/confusion/anger forsakes faithrather than letting the test produce perseverance. Heb.6:11And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. God doesn't meet us on our terms.We meet Him on His, laid out ever-so-changelesslyand perfectly in His Word,Let's pray for a more humble faith, For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, *the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, That sin seems still to test the faith of many!Lord, help us hate the sinfulness of sin (in so many subtle forms).Lord, help us to look on You,  soberly and thankfully remembering what You suffered on our behalf to save us from sin's penalty!Forgive us if we should forget! Forgive us, Lord, when we forgetAnd wise in our own eyes debateThy love and righteousness and fretAt the prerequisites of faith;'the substance of hope, unashamedthe evidence of Things Unseen'Believing all You have proclaimedAnd trusting You to intervene Where often love misunderstoodCould kindle a fault-finding rue Remind us You work for the goodOf all who put their trust in YouThe Promise, yet with humble heartsBeing assured, they still believed Forgive us Lord, when we neglectTo see the sinfulness of sinAnd thus, unconsciously rejectThy loving, still, small Voice withinForgive us when we minimizeThe bloodstained cross of CalvaryAnd far to often fail to prizeThe price You paid to set us free Forgive us when we, with proud thoughtContest Your higher thoughts and waysAnd dare to grumble at our lotRather than lifting hymns of praiseAnd should faith tremble in the galeOf tests and troubles that must beRemind us, this is but the veilFaith's Last Gasp rends, then we will see(*the riches of the glorious inheritance) © Janet Martin