Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLT
When the Holy Spirit is leading us, everything we do and say will be good. We will reflect the character and divine nature of Christ.
Christlikeness is the goal of our sanctification process. That is what spiritual maturity looks like.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind 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
Faith that endures is what we need to be complete in Christ. What is your faith in?
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:5-8 NLT
Saving faith is in Christ alone. Beware of counterfeit gods. Accept no substitutes.
In this world, you will have trouble. But be of good cheer, Christ overcame the world. Not only that, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Therefore, we have overcome the world. We are no longer subject to its fallen ways. Take comfort in your relationship with God, not the things of this world.
When we endure until the end, then we will be saved. Saved out of this sinful world. Set free to live in eternity with Christ. That’s our hope. Keep an eternal perspective to comfort your soul and ease your mind during difficult seasons.
Tribulation comes unexpectedly.
Prayer Points
- Ask God to strengthen your faith.
- Ask God for wisdom to know the right thing to do or say in any and every circumstance.
- Pray that God’s chosen people would turn from their sins and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Father in Heaven, thank You for loving us. Thank You for saving us through Christ. Give us wisdom. Give us courage. Fill our hearts with Your love and our minds with Your Truth. Amen.
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
James 1:17-18 NLT
Recommended reading: 2 Thessalonians 2 and James 1.
Igniter Ministries 