Welcome to OnlyBy Prayer’s week-long Bible reading plan to kick off New Year’s! Thank you for joining us. This week (Monday-Friday) we will read the book of James and then discuss our reading. It’s a simple plan, but it will help us start the New Year on a good note.
Mary and I will add our thoughts on each day’s reading under the heading for that day. Please add your thoughts each day in the comment section. Feel free to respond to what other people have written as well. Ready? Let’s get started.
January 8, Day 1: Read James 1:1-27
Mary’s Thoughts!
We have been scattered so we can gather! Gather in at school, at work, across nations, towns and workplaces. God calls us to gather his people. While we are walking out our faith, we will experience trials. These trials contain gifts, blessings and that we must open our hands to receive (James 1:7, 12, 21). Some works of God in us will only be completed through trials. Trials are tailor made to benefit us not destroy us. This doesn’t mean the circumstances of our trials are good, but that God can work them to bring us good.
Good from suffering. Good from pain. Good from desperate hurt. Hang on and hold out your hands.
To thrive and gather through our trials we need wisdom, patience, love and faith. Ask God for these things and hold out your hands to receive them (holding out your hands day upon day upon week is an act of faith!).
Believe. Seek. Receive. Repeat.
God is good!
Jane’s Thoughts!
I am focusing on James 1:5-8. What stood out to me is that I don’t want to be a double-minded woman. A double-minded person constantly waffles back and forth between trusting God and then not trusting God. I want to have a steady faith that God will do what is best for me and His purposes. Part of trust is realizing that this can be different than what I think is best. Once I ask, I need to 1) trust and then 2) be content with whatever God’s answer is: yes, no, or wait.
Sometimes I think that this issue is too trivial or I am too trivial to come before God for help. That is wrong. That is the enemy’s thinking, not God’s. The enemy plants the thoughts “Who are you to come before God? You’re not important enough,” or “You can handle that issue on your own. Don’t bother God with it.” Both are wrong. Nothing or no one is too small (or too big) for God to handle. He wants us to come to Him. He values each one of us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sin.
Don’t let the enemy rob you of taking your concerns before God and seeking His wisdom and help. He will answer.
January 9, Day 2: Read James 2:1-26
Mary’s Thoughts!
Partiality is always under-girded by a lack of mercy. Partiality shows a lack of wholeness. We don’t whole-ly love others because we don’t whole-ly love or trust God, who is the God of mercy and grace. Souls of others are won by mercy and grace. No one has ever come to Christ through the condemnation and scorn of another.
Faith is for EVERYONE. So what am I doing to get it to everyone? The poor, the dirty, the sick, the homeless … in Jesus own words the CHOSEN. Chosen by God to inherit His grace and peace and love. So what am I doing to get this good news to EVERYONE?
Because believing requires doing. working. giving. sacrificing.
There can be works without faith, but there can be no faith without works.
So what will I do?
Believe. Seek. Share. Repeat.
January 10, Day 3: Read James 3:1-18
Mary’s Thoughts!
The hardest thing to tame on earth is not and eagle, a lion or a bear; man can tame all these things. The un-tameable creature is the tongue. So powerful and potentially destructive only God can tame it. And we need him to. Why? Because our words direct our actions and ultimately our destiny.
How does God tame the tongue? Through His Word.
His Word can change our words.
Jesus is the Word. In the beginning was the word. The word was God and the word was with God. If we want a changed life, we must have changed words. Remember, God used words to create. We have the choice to use our words to create or destroy. The more I am in the word, the more his word will be in me, creating, remaking, healing, restoring.
“Go and I will be with your mouth, and I will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12
Amen.
January 12, Day 5: Read James 5:1-20
Mary’s Thoughts!
Why do our riches, gifts and talents get rusted and moth-eaten? Because of lack of use. The other day my husband told me he was rusty at his guitar playing. It had been a while since he had strummed his 6-string. He was rusty and it was hard to get going again. Same thing with our gifts and talents. We try to save them for ourselves but when we do that, we end up losing them. We must use ’em or lose ’em. Our clothes get moth eaten and our food gets moldy while the world shivers and starves.
Convicted.
We have a choice according to James 5, we can fatten our hearts or establish them. We are so afraid of suffering. A little pain, a little sacrifice so we store everything up for ourselves. What about Job? Have we suffered as much as Job? For most of us, not even close. He suffered much and was able to endure. I can too.
I can endure not having another dress, another gourmet meal, another Starbucks. I can give a little so another can be warmed and be filled.
Amen.
Jane’s Thoughts
When are we to pray? All the time. When we are suffering … when we are cheerful … when we are sick …. James 5:16 tells us prayer is powerful: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. “
My Spirit-fille Life Bible makes these points about prayer:
- Prayer is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is God’s power infused in our prayer. So this means that this is relationship-based prayer. We have to be Christ followers before we can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
- This type of prayer should be the norm for all believers, not just pastors, or apostles. or prophets.
- Our prayers when energized by the power of the Holy Spirit, cause things to happen. Amazing!
- We can always plant a prayer in another person’s life.
Let’s be prayer planters today!
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Thank you ladies. Both commentaries resonated with me. I was also reminded, yet again, to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (1:21). That is a life-long struggle. I am better than I was, and not where I want to be!
Oh my goodness, Cindy! I am with you on that challenge. I pray I can be quick to listen, slow to speak slow to wrath. Sigh. I often fail… BUT through Christ, I have made progress! Thank you for your comment! I pray you are learning from God’s Holy word!
Yes, Cindy. The slow-to-get-angry part is hard when you feel your face turning red and your heart beating fast. I just want to speak “my mind” and be heard. But I need to realize the “my” part of that phrase is bad. I need to speak the Lord’s mind!
I am reminded that through faith these trials or test as we like to call them, we can only get stronger. Through perseverance we are blessed. God wants only good things for us and not everything we want is good or in his plan for us, so we exercise our faith in knowing he knows best for us.
Yes, Renea! And we pray that His will be done in our lives and the lives of our loved ones! Thank you for the reminder that we must hold on for our blessing! I am praying you hear mightily from God tomorrow!
Yes, His desire is for us to be image bearers of Jesus. Cooperating through that process isn’t always easy, but when we do, we grow and change.
This reminds me that no matter what a person does i.e janitor or CEO, they deserve the same respect. We are here to show love to each other and help where we need too. Our faith and our works should be anchored in the love of God…this is how we lead others to him. I always pray that he is seen in and through me; I pray to be hidden behind him daily.
I love your comment “I pray to be hidden behind Him daily.” What a great thought! If we get the praise it is temporary. If he gets the praise it lasts for eternity! Thank you for sharing, Renea!
I’ve never thought of being hidden behind God before. That is cool. So that He shines through. We need to be there, but be transparent.
Ladies, sorry I had to leave town to help my daughter and her sweet little family as they have all had influenza. You’re in my prayers.
I hope they are healing. You all are in my prayers.
Thank you, Renea! Just got back last night. They are all on the mend, praise the Lord!