Scripture: James 1:2-4
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
Thought for the Day: If I see another commercial for a weight loss program that claims you don’t have to do anything, I will scream (of course, I am writing this as I eat soy ice cream directly out of the carton). We like the idea of getting something for nothing, but health comes only through putting the body to the test. Muscles grow as they experience some sort of resistance such as weightlifting. The heart muscle increases capacity through aerobic exercise. The spiritual body gains stamina by working it. Our spiritual endurance grows only as we stretch and exercised our faith through prayer, study, mission or any of the Christian disciplines. The fitness commercials that make outrageous claims are no more true than those people who claim they can have all the spiritual resilience without the daily practice of spiritual disciplines.
Prayer: O loving Lord, stretch my faith and push my beliefs so I might grow and develop into the Christian you believe I can be. Amen
