Perseverance

Over the last few months I have been reading through the new testament in my quiet time. Yesterday I started reading James again, and I am having to really slow down to take it all in. Instead of me sharing a verse and then talking about that verse, I am just going to share powerful scriptures, from James, that the Lord has spoken to me through these verses. It has taken me the two last days to just get through chapter 1;so I could be following this post up by several more :)  The overriding theme of James 1 or at least what stood out to me the most when I read it this time through was: Perseverance.

James 1:2-5
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him."

James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:19
"My dear brothers, take not of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
          -The Message   "Put this at all the intersections, dear friends, lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear." (I think I could do a post just on this verse alone) :)

James 1:22-25 The Message
"Don't fool yourself into thinking you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what look like.
But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God - the free life! - even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or women of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action."

I honestly am not sure about a lot of things right now, maybe this is just a fleeting thing, maybe the Lord is really calling me to examine my life and make some changes. I honestly don't know. All I know is that the Lord loves me with an everlasting love that I can't even fathom and that He has called me to persevere and pursue after God's heart.

I am so thankful for the Lord's powerful work in my life and how He knows exactly what I need in my life right now. The last month or so I have been called to a period of rest; it seems to be both spiritually and physically, but I am really starting to enjoy just abiding in the Lord( yeah, it has taken me a month to enjoy resting, crazy I know). I do not know what season of life I will be enjoying next, but one thing I do know; with God guiding me and walking along beside me:

"I can do anything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13