James 2:14-26New King James Version

Faith Without Works Is Dead^(A)

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Testimony: After praying I felt God lead me to spend extra time studying for a test I had upcoming. Not just once or twice but three times and putting in the necessary work needed to feel confident about the material. By God’s grace, I passed! It goes to show that God is faithful and that faith and prayer + putting in the necessary work will often lead to your success. Without works faith is nothing. So yes pray, but put in the necessary work. God will often answer your prayer with the keys, steps and strategies along with the material you need to actually begin the work. Now couple the faith with the work and start!

Forgive us for the spirit of complacency that we have entertained, help us to move forward by putting our faith with our work and being successf in all that we do. Help us to work effectively and efficiently in Jesus name amen.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:19‭-‬23‭, ‬25‭-‬27 NLT
Let this word penetrate in your hearts and move you to action.

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18.

Loving another person as ypurself can be difficult especially if all you want to do is get back at them. With the same tender care you look to treat yourself with, do the same for others, soothe your anger at God’s feet because the bible commands us to be slow to anger, do not sin by holding onto it for longer than necessary. Let it go. Let us really seek to live the word out in our lives.

Practical steps we can take is writing out our frustrations as they arise or praying in the moment rather than reacting straightaway.

Prayer: Dear Father open our eyes to practical ways of living out the word in our lives, give us the ability and opportunity to live as the word commands us to and show us how to obey it. May we soothe all anger at your feet and seek to love our neighbours even the most difficult ones, in Jesus’s name, amen.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 14

God may call you to love deeply, ask God to help you to love in such a way that honours and glorifies him. Even if the person you are loving doesn’t always do what you think is best, make the decision to love them and teach them in love, always with their best interest at heart. Bless those who persecute you despitefully use you. Love them

God may call you to love someone that seems “difficult”. Love them regardless, love is a choice

This example is simple but powerful. I’m currently studying for my regulation driver’s test so I keep the book which I study from in my room with all of my other books. I was on my way out my room when I overheard and saw a Christian program teaching important truths and lessons about healthy Godly marriages, as the topic sparked my attention, I heard God say go sit down and listen to it right now. So as I was leaving my room a thought came to mind to go back to get my book to take with me so I could start studying after watching the program. I still felt no, don’t go back just go to the couch and watch the program like God said, so I went and did not look back. As I got to the couch I saw the book laying on the couch exactly where I was going to sit. I marvelled and to myself I told God thank you, then I proceeded to watch the program which turned out to be very educational as it taught me about tips this particular couple learnt during their marriage on communication and what to expect as two complete different human beings being in one union. It taught me that you may very well find someone who is absolutely opposite to you in how they parent, handle emotions, communicate and manage difficult situations, even in praying differently, which is all ok.

The powerful note I took away is that no two persons are exactly the same and you cannot turn someone into yourself. Let them be them and let not your narratives be about you trying to turn them into yourself because they simply are not, what is important is that you learn from them what God wants you to learn, because their way and your way are different and you both can teach each other new ways in doing things and unite in that way rather than trying to change each other into a version of yourself. Communication of expectations and feelings is also important for healthy relationships and I would have never got this lesson if I had went back looking for a book that was already there at my destination.

Sometimes we go back looking for things to take on our journey with us when God just said to go, go in time not after the fact, not even before but right in the right time. When you go in faith you’ll receive the blessing you were meant to receive that has your name right on it. Your blessing is waiting on you.

Psalm 42.

Dear Father, “¹ As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One^[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
    among the festive throng.

⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

⁶ My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
    the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.

⁸ By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me—” I pray
    “a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I say to God my Rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?”
¹⁰ My bones suffer mortal agony
    as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?”
Help me as the Psalmist says to “Put MY hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.” In Jesus Holy and matchless name, I give you my downcast soul as I feel it whither you will strengthen me because I am not my own, I belong to you. My soul is yours. My heart is yours, and so is my being. In Jesus name.

Let us remember that our souls are not our own. To God we truly belong, and The cares of this world will always pass away. So why is your soul so downcast within you? Put your hope in God. And may we not struggle with unbelief, we believe that you are the lover of our souls andb that you care for our souls. So we trust you. Trust God give your soul to him to care for, whatever he leads you to whether singing, dancing, praying, writing, meditating on him, rest in him and do it.

Anxiety is a voice that tells you lies. It doesn’t have control over you. You have control overnit, turn down the volume of lies.

it just tries to appear scary so it can consume you with all the negative possibilities. Overpower it with the confidence of who yo already know you are in Christ. You are a light

Wait on the Lord, sometimes we get impatient waiting but in the meantime ask God to bring to mind things you need to focus on, spend time with him, have fun with him, get to know him and yourself through him! It can be a refreshing, healing process when you allow it to be. Keep waiting in worship and trusting HIS timing.

Jeremiah 9 23-24 “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in this, that he understands and knows Me”.
Amen and amen!!!!!! Do not glory in the strength of your own might, do not seek to go after your own wisdom of your calling but always seek God’s Holy calling according to Stormie in the power of a praying woman always surrender what you think God has called you to first. Surrendering it to him means he has control, this is something I too am still learning but I know that when I surrender my way to his, what can’t he do? What can’t he lead me to? As I read Stone’s words it inspired me to give God control over everything, my dreams and even the dreams I feel that he wants for me, just give it over becaus your life is not your own at the end of the day.
It isn’t always easy submitting what you want to give it over to what God wants but always remember you’re giving it to the Lord of your life who knows and sees every single thing that Is best for you. If he is Lord of your life then let him be, and if he knows what is best, I wouldn’t want to give it to anyone else.

Another thing; be faithful in the little things, God is watching how you handle them

Prayer: Dear God according to your word help us as Paul has stated that “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” Help us to live this scripture out through our lives, and fully completely live the life you have called us to in surrender. We surrender to you, we admit it can be hard but we KNOW your way is better any how so we give you it because you are our LORD AND we are not. So we surrender our dreams for ourselves and the dreams you have for us to you and we ask that you transform our way into your will for our lives in Jesus name we pray amen.
Ephesians 4:1‭-‬4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.4.1-4.NLT

Task: Together, you and I, let’s lay our dreams at God’s feet every single dream we have mapped and laid out place it down. He is in control. Let us write them down if we have to and place them on the alter of surrender and sacrifice. When we learn to let go we have stepped into the heart of surrender. Let’s do that today and this week, every thought we have that we desire first give it to God and tell him to have his way in it. Let’s listen and be sensitive to his nudge and his guiding as he gives us peace and directs our hearts to what he wants instead, and if what you’ve laid down is the direction he wants you in remember you are serving him first and not the dream so allow him to let it be done his way not your own.

Psalm 5

King James Version

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

² Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

³ My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

⁴ For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

⁵ The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

⁶ Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

⁷ But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

¹⁰ Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

¹² For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

For the past few days we’ve been talking about prayer, not only to lay down your worries but to ask for direction. Repeat these Psalms in your prayer this morning evening or night when you go to meditate on God, and mean them from your heart. He listens.

Psalm 23King James Version

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I was feeling so discouraged, lost hope, lost direction, lost motivation, just plain lost. Sometimes I look to find comfort in a show, a movie or a friend. An escape for a while to keep my mind off of things is easy and simple and best way out I sometimes think.

But God said na, pray to me right now in this moment of discouragement. Kneel down, shut the doors of disctraction (whatever that might be for you) and pray child.

CAN WE DISCUSS THE POWER OF PRAYER ?

My my my it moves mountains! It pulls down strong holds!! It removes worry and fear and doubt. Prayer is POWERFULLL. And when you take the time to pray instead of running to other things your burdens will be lifted.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 7: 7-8 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and yeshall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seekethfindeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. What are you seeking? Peace? Love? A job? Direction? Motivation? List it all out and pray about it. Your burdens will be lifted.

Be intentional about your prayer, do not only pray about your own needs but find someone to pray for each time as well. Cover them as you would yourself, ask people, friends, loved ones for their prayer requests, you would be surprised how encouraged people feel when they know someone wants to pray for them.

we are never alone, we all share burdens and load but our Heavenly Fathe grave us the Holy Spirit that he may be with us and in us. We are never alone sometimes all you can do is cry in prayer, and that is okay. Cry, yell, scream, tell God from deep within your fears.

Your fears are safer with him than with you. As you let them go he will enable you because fear is not of him, let it go beloved.

Romans 8:26

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven

Isn’t it comforting knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in Prayer? Open up your mouth and pray, groan, utter words as led by Holy Spirit, don’t be ashamed we’re all here doing the same. We all need God. Be at peace knowing this, God is our creator, there’s nothing he doesn’t already know about you, so when you cry I prayer you are releasing to him what is not yours to carry to begin with. You are creating and nurturing relationship when you run to God first instead. Let him have it beloved.

The space is open for you to leave a request and pray for someone else who comes to mind, let God lead right now in this moment, as you lay your burdens and cover the burdens of another i pray in Jesus name the Philippians 4:7King James Version

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:7 ”Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Prayer: Pray about whatever is troubling your heart, pray about your deepest desires, ask God to align them with his.

Pray for his will to be done in you and in all the earth and pray that as you empty your heart to him of all your cares and worries your heart will be softened to hear his voice. Amen.