God Does Not Tempt

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'This temptation comes from God.' God is never tempted and He can never tempt anyone. Instead, each of us is lured and enticed by his own evil desire. Once this desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15

I know people who get angry at God for their own sins. They think that it's God's fault that they're an alcoholic, for example, or that God put them in a sinful situation to test them. As Saint James wrote in this epistle, God does not tempt anyone. On the contrary, it is our own desires that lead us to sin. You are fully aware of what is right and wrong, and when you have the option to sin and you take it, it is nobody's fault but your own.

Don't blame God for your weakness. We are all susceptible to certain evil desires and it is our job to rely on God and ask for help in combating them. God doesn't get you into sin, but He's the only way out of it.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, help me identify those areas in my life in which I am weak and sin. Help me to realize that it is nobody's fault but my own. I ask for the strength and conviction to do Your will everyday of my life. In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.

What ARE You Doing?

"Brothers, what good is it to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you." - James 2:14

Being a good person is often viewed in terms of what we don't do. Someone could say, "I'm a good person; I don't cheat, I don't kill, I don't steal." Great! Good for you! But now tell me… what ARE you doing?

A sin of omission, holding back on a good we could have done for someone, is just as bad as actively committing a sin. When an opportunity comes for you to help someone, you better believe that's God putting that in your way for you to lend a hand. It could be the time someone asked to borrow 20 bucks, although you knew they wouldn't pay you back. It could be the time that annoying person called you because they needed to talk to someone. It could be that woman you saw carrying all the bags to her car by herself. The bible says that even the demons believe in God and tremble, so if you say you believe in God and pass up these opportunities to actually do good for people God has put in your way, how is your faith any different than that of the demons? In the end, God will decide we're good people based on the work we did for Him, not from just believing. How do we show God we believe if not by the actions we take?

And don't stop at just helping out when a situation arises… look for these situations! Talk to someone who is depressed about the love of God! Be inspired to be a blessing for others. It's not all about you and what you need from God! There are people going through serious hardships, and if you want God to bless you, you better be willing to be a blessing to other people. Saying you believe in God can't save you, but living a life dedicated to the service of others will.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in the same way You spent Your life serving others, I want to spend mine doing Your work. Help me see those that need my assistance. I am here to do Your will, My Lord. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Your Prayer Life

"The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it." - James 4:2

Those that really know God can tell you that our prayer requests are a weakness to Him; there is nothing God wants to deny us. Over the past year, I have really been amazed at the things He does for me. Things that I even asked for in jest because I thought He wouldn't bother to listen to me about certain things… but He's showing me He always listens. And He always listens to you, too. James, someone who was close to the Lord, wouldn't write this verse if he didn't know it to be true. You don't have what you want because you don't pray for it. Do you pray with faith and dedication? A relationship with God isn't shooting up prayers when you want something and then not talking to God for a few weeks until you want something again. The Lord is faithful, be faithful to Him! Live in constant communication with Him and you will see God blessing you and showing you that He is listening and watching. He wants to love you, He wants to bless you and help you with all those things you carry around. Don't turn your back on His love, but develop your prayer life to see the good He wants to do for you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, sometimes I'm tired and sometimes I doubt… but despite all this, I do know You're there and that You love me. Put in me the desire to seek You day and night so that Your thoughts are my thoughts. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Faith Is Shown In Action

"Brothers, what good is it to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you." - James 2:14

It's very easy to get into a rut when it comes to living in the Spirit. We go to church and we pray, and sometimes we think that's enough. However, we were created to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world so unless you are doing something active with your faith and helping others in some way, your faith is dead. It means nothing. If you're not encouraging someone, lending a hand or being an example of faith to others, there is no way your faith can manifest itself. In the same way Jesus gave of Himself through the connection He had with God, so it is our responsibility to go out and be Jesus for those in need. If God were to ask you today what works your faith has produced for Him, what would you have to show for yourself? How are others seeing that God lives in you?

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me the courage to step up in Your Name and help those You have put in my path. Open my eyes to see those that need my assistance and guide me in doing Your will. In Your Name we pray, amen.

A Contrite Heart

"Draw close to God and He will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters." - James 5:8

We all want to draw close to God and be better people. The great thing about our God is that the second we seek Him, He draws closer to us. I've heard people that claim to try to look for God with no success but that's hard for me to believe. It's a fact that God let's Himself be found by those who seek Him but there is always one condition - as James puts it here - clean your hands, purify your hearts. When you look for God it's because you know that things in you need change and you know that only He can help you, therefore, when approaching God, it must be with an attitude of repentance and a willingness to give up your former way of living/ thinking/ being and let God guide you. It's the only way. How else can you become a better person and see more good things come your way in life if you don't first acknowledge that God needs to shift some things around? Once you are open to this, you will see God come into your life in an undeniable way.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, I want to be closer to You but I know that my heart needs to be humbled. Search me and bring to light things that I need to change, things that are standing in Your way. Come close to me Lord, for I just want to be close to You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Words

"From the same mouth come both blessing and curse. Brothers, this should not be the case. Can both fresh and salt water gush from the same source?" - James 3:10-11

I was just praying and God let me feel that a great way to tell the heart of a person is by the things that come out of their mouths. Just in the same way that fresh water can't gush out of the same place as salt water, good things can't gush out of the mouth of a wicked person. Yes, people can fool us and be hypocrites, but this is a personal test for each of you - think about the things you speak about. Who do you talk about? When you speak to others, do you speak to encourage or do you speak to put down? Do you use your words to help others or do you use them to manipulate for your own advantage? Do you use your words for deceit or for truth? Or sometimes, speech isn't even necessary, do you lend a voice when someone needs to hear a kind word? Or do you keep your silence and not help? Whatever you choose to say or not say, especially the things that blurt out when you're angry or surprised, are all a true reflection of who you really are, what's really in your heart. You may try to hide this from others, but God sees who you really are and His is the only opinion that matters.

We all have things we need to change and work on. First, we need to realize that speech is a gift God gave us to build and encourage those in need of kind words, not to hurt anyone else or bring ourselves up. Then, we ask God to help us work on those issues we have inside so that both our heart and our words can be pure.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord Jesus, search me and reveal to me where I am lacking. Show me if my words have offended people and how I can correct that and correct my own heart. Help me, too, to forgive those who have hurt me with their words and understand that their hearts are wounded as well. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Pray For What You Want

"The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it. You pray for something and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of indulging your pleasures." - James 4:2-3

Just before this verse in the letter of James, the author says that if someone lacks something, let them ask God for it since He gives easily and unconditionally. Now over here, James is saying that if we do not have what we want, it's because we don't pray or if we pray and still don't see it, it's because we are asking with the wrong motives. So what are the right motives? It's all about truly trusting in God. When you trust in God, you let go of those things you are holding on to that prevent you from moving forward in your life. Along this process, God slowly strengthens us and prepares us. Therefore, when we ask for something, we are open to His will, for He knows our entire futures unlike ourselves who only see with limited eyes. He gives generously because we allow Him to move us to where we can receive many blessings.

God is so good that even when we give Him little cooperation, He gives us so much back. That's why James says that we don't have what we want because we don't pray. Just by developing a prayer life that involves a few minutes each day, you will see a dramatic change in your life. You will begin to see how the Lord opens doors for you and gives you opportunities you never thought you would have. Don't block these blessings in your life; pray to the Lord each and every day so that He can bless you. Do not be ignorant and pray for things that you know are not good for you, things that lead to sin. You know that the Father is good and only gives you things if they are truly good for you. He will never allow harm to come your way. Pray so that instead, the Lord may bring blessings to your life when you pray.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to purify my prayer life and open my will up to Your will. Don't allow me to stray or not put my faith in You, but in all things to pray. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Having a Bad Day

"Is anyone among you discouraged? Let him pray." - James 5:13

James was one of Jesus' disciples and witnesses to His life, works, and resurrection. If anyone knew a thing or two about feeling down, feeling discouraged, it was James. He lived in a time when a person he believed in, Jesus, was murdered. He had to hide out of fear for his own life and see a lot of people lose faith and abandon him on the road to Christianity. Therefore, when James, 20 or 30 years after Jesus' ascension into Heaven, writes to the church telling them to pray if they are discouraged, we need to listen and follow orders. He had been there. He knew what it was like to have a bad day and not be at all sure what was going to happen in his life, if things were going to work out ok or not. But through the good and the bad, even the very bad, James would pray.

We all have our bad days. Lonely days, tired days, and overwhelming days. Don't look to yourself for a way out because we are all weak, but there is One who makes us strong if we call upon Him. James knew this God and even when he was sad due to his persecution and the persecutions of those he loved, James would pray because He knew that only the Lord can gladden hearts and renew us with the energy we need.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, You know me inside and out. I need You right now because I'm upset, I'm tired. I just don't feel right and I'm counting on You to liven my spirit. Help me to remove all things that block You and come into my heart. In Your Name we pray, amen.

You Believe In God, So What?

"Do you believe there is one God? Well enough, but do not forget that the demons also believe and tremble with fear!" - James 2:19

I was out to dinner the other night with a group of friends. I was having a conversation with the people sitting towards my left when I heard the people to my right talk about God. One girl said, "I don't believe in God. I don't care what happens because to me, there is nothing there," while the other person said, "I can't tell you if I believe a God exists or not, I don't know." I have come across a lot of people that have similar points of view, but more often than not, I come across people that do say they believe in God. For those that believe, including myself, how do we manifest this belief? A lot of times people think themselves righteous because they say they believe, or feel that by just believing, they are done and don't need to do anything else. But in this letter, Saint James gives us a hard reality check - even Satan and the demons believe in God and tremble with fear! Do we even tremble? If we who believe don't find a way of being better believers than the demons of Hell, we're in trouble! How are we any different?

The difference lies in our actions. Don't say you believe but never go to church, never pray, spread hate. Then you are just like the demons in Hell. Instead, show that you are not like the demons in Hell and let your belief in God show love, mercy, compassion, and a true friendship with God.

Today's Prayer:
My God, allow Your Word in me to always develop into fruit. Allow that through me, others may see how good You are. I don't want my faith to be dead and the same as the demons, but grant that in You, I may show Your light. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Sometimes I Just Can't Keep My Mouth Shut!

"Nobody, however, can control the tongue; it is an untiring whip, full of deadly poison. We use it to bless God, our Father, and also to curse those made in God's likeness." - James 3:8-9

After I wrote yesterday's email, I came across this verse in the book of James and it not only confirmed to me everything I wrote, but also added more to it. When we don't like someone, not only can we not stand them, but then we go on to talk crap about them. I know I definitely do this and it is so wrong. Even if I try not to, the words just slip out of my mouth!! What's worse is that usually, the person I'm speaking to never really defends who I'm talking about, instead I poison them too and most of the time they end up joining me in bashing that person and that sin becomes my fault too! Then James points out that this is the same mouth with which I pray to and bless God! It's so easy to be influenced by the enemy and go against what God wants.

I struggle with this everyday but I know one thing and it's that I want to follow God. I don't want to be a hypocrite and that's why every morning and every night I examine myself before Him. I know I fall short but I know He knows I'm trying. In order to combat these feelings, I will pray for those people and try to go out of my way to be kinder towards them.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, instead of following Your example, I let myself be driven into sin, talking negatively about Your own sons and daughters. I don't want to be a source of evil, but I want to use my words to glorify You. Help me be more like You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Just A Mist

"You have no idea what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? No more than a mist which appears for a moment and then disappears." -James 4:14

Think seriously about this passage. Really, what is your life? Can you guarantee that you will be here tomorrow? No. And if, God forbid, something did happen to you, to a family member or to a friend, can you say that you have lived as you would have liked? I know that I certainly can't. It's only very recently that I've been trying to assess my actions and hold them up to God's standards. Every second you have in life is a chance to do God's will, repent of a sin, help someone in need so when the opportunities arise, and they do come up, don't brush them aside, but put all your efforts into striving for eternal life for we really don't know how much time we have left here. It would be a shame if we would have been counting on having more time and end up losing. Your time is now.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am not the creator of my life, You are. Please help me to use all my days wisely so that I grow closer to You instead of taking the path that leads to perdition. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Wet Cement

"Draw close to God and He will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters." - James 4:8



The love of God is a powerful thing and when He calls us to come close to Him there is no denying it. Our lives are filled with so many things and all the anger and frustrations we deal with on a daily basis lower the voice of God in our hearts. But when all is quiet and we find ourselves shooting a small prayer to the Lord, or when we're on our way to work and encounter a kind person on the street who warms our hearts, that is the call of God.



I've been thinking a lot lately about who am I supposed to be in the Lord and how I can be what He needs me to be and I realized all I need is to seek Him with all of my heart and He will respond. But before I can begin that journey, I need to look inside me and and let Him purify me, let Him clean my spirit and bring peace to my soul.



"Wet Cement" is a song that represents what we must be in order to let God take hold of our lives and set us on the path to the happiness and freedom that only He can give.



Please mediate on the words as a prayer:


"I have lived with rocks inside for far too long,
And I've begun to grow attached to them.
But I'm begging you now Lord,
Please pick up your trowel Lord,
Dig out these impurities and fill me up again.



Wet Cement,
Is what I want to be,
So you can work with me,
Wet Cement, Wet Cement.
Jesus, you move me where you will,
To the place that I can fill.
Well, I finally understand, like putty in your hands, Wet cement.



Smoothing out my edges there you go again,
But the sun and wind have come and I am dry.
Your face shows disappointment with the shape I'm in, and slowly I begin to realize that the harder I become, the more work to be done, the more painful sacrifice.




Wet Cement,
Is what I want to be,
So you can work with me,
Wet Cement, Wet Cement.
Jesus, you move me where you will,
To the place that I can fill.
Well, I finally understand, like putty in your hands, Wet cement.



Level me Lord,
Make me right,
Stamp your image upon my heart.