1) Pray for understanding in your mind, trust in your heart, and powerful obedience in your daily living.
2) Read the passage and mark anything that blesses you, challenges you, or raises a question.
3) Reflect on the passage. What's God saying about Himself? What's God saying about you?
4) Pray in response to what God puts on your heart through the Word.
James 1:1–4
[1] James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings. [2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Reflection Questions:
Head: According to the passage, what is the reason for rejoicing in the midst of trials?
Heart: Do you believe that God is working in you and around you? To help strengthen your faith, reflect on a time when God was working even when you could not see it immediately.
Hands: Knowing that Jesus is with you during difficult times, how will you let this shape:
How you respond to God?
How you treat (or talk to) people?
What decisions you make?
Encouragement
Even during challenging times, James never forgot what Jesus did for him. He remembers that because Jesus gave his own life to save him, James is no longer his own. That's why he calls himself a "servant of God" in verse 1. He is basically saying, "I do not let circumstances shape my attitude towards God. Rather, Christ's sacrifice and victory for me keeps me focused and humble before God in every situation."
So James encourages others, though they may be going through painful trials, to keep their eyes focused on what Christ has done for them and what Jesus continues to do in them. Sometimes, life can get so confusing or even painful. We may ask, "how will things turn out for me?" or "will I be able to handle things in the future?" In Christ, there are no random incidents. We can trust that Jesus uses all situations, even difficult situations, to shape us and grow our hearts to be like Him.
Look back in your life to how God has demonstrated His faithfulness and power in you. May this give you greater confidence for the future that God will keep working in you for your benefit and His glory.