March 2023 – Kathryn Breckenridge

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT

The rain pattered on my windshield. Three hundred feet ahead the trees were just dark shapes, obscured by the fog and rain. Hitting yet another pothole covered by water, I wondered if my car would fall apart or if my teeth would shake loose from the jolt. I’m ready for sunshine. I love the rain, but we’ve had so much more rain than usual in our dry region that I tire of the frequent storms.

On the other hand, I will never tire of the flowers that have come from the frequent rains! There are more blooms and they are lasting longer with the moisture. Plants grow quickly with the water. We need the rains for the growth that follows.

As I muse about the weather, the Lord reminds me the role of storms in our lives.

Storms hit in life. Problems, temptations, suffering, or sorrow may obscure our view of the Light. All seems dark and dismal. The potholes of life shake us as we go through them. The storm may last longer than we think we can endure. James tells us to consider the troubles as an opportunity for great joy, which seems a strange thing to consider, but the troubles lead to growth.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3, 4 NLT

The New International Version states that another way.

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4 NIV

It is often in the storms that we grow. Buffeted by the winds of change or the stormy trials, we turn to the Lord in desperation. We often seek Him in the storms of life more quickly than when we are basking in the sunshine of everything going well. Our heavenly Father is waiting for us to call to Him.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5–8 NLT

Let’s press in to the Lord when the winds blow and the storms come. He will give us wisdom. God will help us grow in our faith and endurance so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Lord, I ask for Your wisdom in the trials. Grow my faith into a beautiful flower that glorifies You. Amen.

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Top Photo by Sam Willis on Pexels.com

Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT): Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan

I would love to hear from you. How is God working in your life?

Devotionals post every other Thursday, and are archived by month for your convenience.

God bless you.

Kathryn

Focus on Being God’s Servant

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26 NKJV

How can we serve Christ? Let’s focus on how we can be God’s faithful servant.

A faithful servant follows what the boss or master says to do. An obedient servant knows what to do and does it to the best of his or her ability. That servant is loyal to the one in charge.

Consider Joseph in Genesis 39. After his brothers sold him into slavery and he was taken to Egypt, he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh who was the captain of the guard. Joseph was trustworthy and responsible. Scripture tells us,

His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and over all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer of his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Genesis 39: 3–5a ESV

Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of wrongdoing and Joseph was thrown into prison. The LORD was with Joseph in prison and showed him His unwavering love. The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of the prisoners and everything that needed to be done at the prison.

I believe Joseph found favor with the LORD because he was faithful in the small and the big things. He wasn’t goofing off or taking advantage of trust placed in him. He honored God in his decisions and in his actions, working as for the Lord and not for men, just as Paul tells us to do in Colossians.

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:22–24 ESV

One way we can serve the Lord Christ is by being His hands and feet in serving others. Let’s ask the Lord to show us how and where He wants us to serve. We don’t want service to replace our worship and time with the Lord. We can plan for times of service, such as helping with the youth group or providing meals to shut-ins, but do so with the awareness that God does bring to us His own divine appointments that may not fit our schedule. Our desire to serve Christ comes naturally from our own grateful hearts as we grow closer to Jesus who provides for us and cares for us. The Holy Spirit guides us and molds us to become more like Jesus Christ. We in turn want other people to know the hope we have found.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

When our focus is on God, we can see where He is working. That is a good place for us to be as well. Let’s follow the Lord wherever He leads us. May He find us good and faithful servants.

Lord, I want to be Your faithful servant. Please help me to follow Your leading. Make me aware of when something is of Your will for me, and when something is a distraction that keeps me from focusing on You.

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Scripture quotation marked (ESV) is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I hope you are enjoying this devotional series, New Beginnings. Devotionals post every other Thursday, and are archived by month for your convenience.

I would love to hear from you. Is there a devotional topic you are looking for or that has impacted you?

God bless you.

Kathryn

Month: March 2023

Growth in the Storm

New Beginnings: Part Five of Five

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