Tag Archive for: God

Drawing Near to God

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Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

Read more of James 4

Let’s break down the four elements of this passage:  (1) Submitting to God (2) Resisting the devil (3) Drawing near to God; and all of this is made possible through number (4) cleansing our hearts and making our way right with the Lord.  It’s time to dive in deeper to all that God has for us.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.”

Some people do not like to hear the word submit.  They want control over their own lives because somehow they think they can do better than God can.  I know I can’t.  I see the beginning of this passage and I recognize my complete need to surrender my life before the Lord.  He is the One with the answers, the One who knows the plans He has for my life, and He alone will be my strength through all things I face.  It is my true delight to simply surrender to the One who gives me life.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

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Let Me Rediscover You

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There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:26-27)

Sweetly Soaring

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But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)

Read more of James 1

Today, I want to focus on applying God’s Word to our lives.  How can we put feet to what James 1 is saying?  How will we live this out?  I think instead of writing about this, I want to show you how it’s being done.  Here are a few notes from my sister Rachel.  Please enjoy her thoughts on the Word of God and learn how she is putting it into action in her own life.

“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.” (James 1:2-4)

Rachel’s Thoughts:  I can’t say that I consider it pure joy when I am facing a trial, but I can say that I am so grateful and filled with joy that God takes the trials in our lives and helps us to grow in Him. This is definitely something I have learned looking back in life. Now as an adult it seems easier to see Gods hands at work in the mist of a trial but it is still difficult to completely grasp until I see the clouds breaking open and the sunshine pouring in. Then I think uh ha I got it, thank you God for bringing me through!

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Marinate in God’s Word

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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. (James 1:2-4)

Have you ever had a good piece of meat that’s been marinated for a little while?  I think some of the best ribs are the ones where the meat just falls off the bone.  The ribs that have taken all day to marinate.  This makes me think about marinating in the juices of God’s Word.  What would my life be like if I marinated daily in God’s Word?  Would His Word seep from my being?  Would people taste and see that the Lord is good?

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It’s Time to R.U.M.B.A.

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Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:22-24)

This week, I want to take a look at memorizing Scripture with you.  Let’s talk about why it’s important, how to study it, and what to study.  Let’s take a closer look at the Word and see how it can transform our lives.

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