Persevere! - Friday Fast June 8
Joel Schmidgall
Jun 08, 2007 · 10:45 AMToday, we have a guest author from the team: Jen Charron. Jen has a genuine heart for God but also translates that into action. Here goes...
We have such an exciting adventure ahead of us- not just the Uganda trip, but our continued growth as Christians. The first thing that comes to mind in this journey is perseverance.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The Bible promises that perseverance leads to blessings, hope and Godly character (see Romans 5:3-5). We all need Hope- especially the Ugandans. Perseverance isn’t a chore, it is an opportunity to be blessed and to gain hope. It can be exercised through prayer, fasting, and studying the Bible.
How do you approach setbacks in your daily and spiritual life? Do you slow down or do you persevere? We can be renewed in the knowledge that if we persevere, we will not be disappointed.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
As you fast today, remember to persevere, and pray for hope for Uganda!
Prayer Fuel - Read through the book of James today (don’t worry, it is a short one).
David
Jun 09, 2007 · 7:56 AM
hey Jen, thanks for authoring this awesome post and for choosing the book of James for our Prayer Fuel...i found both your message and our reading extremely encouraging as i struggled to get through our Friday Fast...and i definitely felt challenged by the no-nonsense, tough love approach to Christianity that James uses...in a weird, but also positive way, his writing helped break down the flaws/shortcomings in my life and simultaneously built me back up with his instructions to be patient, faithful, and hopeful…
Bonita
Jun 09, 2007 · 9:54 PM
Thanks for the encouraging message, Jen! I had an incredibly tough Friday, and was struggling to remind myself of my positions and my values, and to make sure my actions represented who I was and who I believed in (this was during a happy hour with recruiters where money, billables, deals, and more money were the only topics discussed). The passage from James was a comforting reminder that God tests us for a reason, and that I’m going to come out of each challenge stronger (hopefully!) and represent him better!
Jen
Jun 11, 2007 · 10:51 AM
Washington D.C.
Hi guys! Thanks for the encouraging words. I found James to be what I needed - a reminder of the principles that should be guiding me. I needed to be reminded of the facts jack! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I am looking forward to our next meeting and getting to know you guys more. I was even more pumped up about our trip after seeing the Kenya video this weekend at NCC. Woo hoo! Looking forward to our trip.
Michael
Jun 12, 2007 · 8:57 AM
James 5:10-11 also rocks:
10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Jen, let me add my thanks to the others for this excellent reminder. The Lord is faithful and compassionate!
Jen
Jun 15, 2007 · 12:40 PM
Washington DC
Hi guys! It’s another Friday Fast day and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.