We have to remember that the lives we live are not our own. We gave them as a living sacrifice to a God whom we love and worship. When you give a possession away, you no longer have control over what is done with that possession. God is writing a story in each our of lives that will bring Him glory. Our obedience in allowing Him to have His perfect Will performed through us brings Him Glory by pointing others around us towards Him!!! Many times God does this by allowing us to go through tests which will then be used to strengthen our brothers and sisters as well as unbelievers. These tests are used to strengthen our own faith in a loving God, but then also used to strengthen our community. When we are going through the Fire we must keep in mind that we will come out as pure gold, give glory to God, strengthen our brothers and sisters, store up treasures in Heaven, and add to the testimony of our lives that may be used to save many from destruction. When we go through a hardship and come out on the other side Praising God with a joyful attitude we can inspire those around us. Many people will ask how can you have joy in the midst of this situation, we must respond in this manner; "This brings glory to the God I love, hope to the community around me, and I gave myself as a possession to the most High God and He did not sit me on a shelf to collect dust but He is delighting in our relationship enough to allow me to bring Him Glory"!!! Now we can count this as Joy, to be used by God!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of experiencing the fire on purpose!!!!!
James 1
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
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