Praying for wisdom to see (James 1:5)

Hi Ladies,

Since not all of you are able to join in the James study this summer, I thought I’d take this week to share some gleanings from the dig. 🙂 

Have you ever heard James referred to as “the New Testament Proverbs”? While the letter does seem to take more of a wisdom-literature approach than the other New Testament books, I’m seeing that James writes with a more cohesive thought than I first realized. Some of its well-known verses have significant context to them. 

For example, how many times have you seen or heard this verse quoted?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

We know from the rest of Scripture that wisdom comes from God (Pr. 2:6-7), that Christ is Wisdom incarnate (1 Cor. 1:30), and that asking for wisdom is right and good (1 Kgs 3:9, Pr. 2:1, Ps. 119:66, Eph. 1:17). So this verse from James can stand alone. But we miss a lot without the context! Look at what precedes verse 5:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom…”

James begins chapter 1 championing steadfastness (vv. 3-4), highlights it again in v. 12, and concludes the chapter with a synonym (perseveres) in. v. 25… not to mention all the occurrences in chapter 5. It’s definitely a theme! 

Here he tells us to consider it a joyful thing when we fall into trials, since we have confidence that God is using them to prove and strengthen our faith. This “worked out” faith is one that can endure longer and longer under pressure. That’s the literal meaning of the Greek word for steadfast (hypomeno…remember that word?!). The final result - the end of sanctification - is our being perfect, complete, whole, lacking in nothing. (Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?) We know that we won’t arrive at this until we are glorified. But God’s good design and plan for our lives is to work in and through the trials to make us more and more like who He created us to be. 

This is God’s perspective. And James tells his readers (including us) this perspective. He could have followed this with something blunt like, “That’s what’s coming, but boy, you all sure lack a lot now!” But, he didn’t. He gently rolled on with something to the effect of, “If any of you lacks wisdom to understand this perspective, then just ask Him…” 

This wisdom James tells us to ask for is not simply about what to do or what to say or where to go…. It’s a wisdom to see life (and particularly the hard parts…which are many) from God’s perspective: designed by a sovereignly good God to make us more like His Son; and then the grace to live in light of it. 

Is it easy to see life this way? No. 

Is it possible? Yes. 

How? Because we have access to the One who tells us to. He bids us come and ask! And not only does He promise to grant it, but He does so generously, liberally, without holding back, and without looking down on us for asking. He delights in hearing from His children and helping us see His glory and goodness. 

Isn’t that amazing?!

If you are struggling to see the hardship you are enduring as a good thing, get on your knees (literally or spiritually), and cry out to Your Father. Ask Him to help you see life as He does. Ask Him for grace to trust His ways. Ask Him to make you more and more steadfast through the pain. And ask Him to give you the resolve to consider the process joy, since you know not only what He is accomplishing now, but also the glorious end to come. 

I promise it will be worth it all, Sisters! 

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would live this out more and more, so that we might be steadfast women, full of joy in Him! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

P.S. Come pray this for one another at our prayer gathering tomorrow at 6pm! 

Christ our Wisdom

Hi Ladies,

I’ve been wanting to share some thoughts on wisdom with you from our ladies’ James study! But before I do, I believe it would be helpful for us to meditate on the lyrics to “Christ our Wisdom.” Kevin introduced this song to us last Sunday, and it fits so well with our study through Proverbs (and James!). 

So, can I encourage you to read the lyrics below, and perhaps write them out or add the song to your playlist this week? 

Christ our wisdom, we are humbled
When You hide Your ways from us.
You have purposes unnumbered
Each one good and glorious.
Help us trust when we grow weary,
Free us from our anxious thoughts;
Give us grace to see more clearly
You are God and we are not.

Christ our wisdom, be our gladness
When we fail to understand
You ordain all joy and sadness
To fulfill Your perfect plan.
Help us know You rule with power
Over every raging flood;
In our most uncertain hour
You are God and we are loved.

Christ our wisdom, we will follow
Though the way ahead is veiled.
As we journey through the shadows
Grant us faith where sight has failed.
Help us cling to Your commandments,
Strengthened by Your faithful word.
We will never be abandoned,
You are God and we are Yours.

Christ our wisdom, we adore You
For the beauty of the cross.
Once in foolishness we scorned You,
But Your blood has ransomed us.
Help us sing the endless mercies
Of Your humble heart to save!
Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory,
You are God forever praised!

Listen here: https://youtu.be/2NlxdVH6c24?is=uZ2dhdc92AqWRL_-

Let’s pray for each other this week, that we would grow to trust and follow Wisdom incarnate more and more as we walk this life by faith, knowing that one day our faith will become sight, and we will be with Him, forever! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna

More on opening your mouth (Ps. 81:10, pt 2)

Hi Ladies,

Some of you probably appreciated the shorter meditation and prayer focus on Psalm 81:10 last week. 😄  But it left some of you with questions. I am so glad it did, and even more so that you asked! My goal is to help you learn how to think biblically, not just to tell you what to think. But sometimes, I’m not as clear as I think I am. So please know that I love your questions, regardless of why! 

Here is the question: How do we practically “fill up” with God? 

First, we must acknowledge that it is ultimately His work: “I will fill.” (God is the one speaking in this verse)

But, it does require our willing obedience: “Open your mouth.” 

So what might this look like for you this week? 

- If you don’t already, purpose to set aside time with Him in His Word and in prayer. He wants it!

- Pray before you open His Word, “Show me more of who You are as I open Your Word. And satisfy me with Yourself as I behold You.” He desires to do this!

- When anxiety wells up, don’t turn to your temporary comfort of choice (you know what it is). Rather, turn to His eternal promises to be Your loving Shepherd, your anchor, your deliverer, your peace, etc. He will provide everything you need!

- When loneliness overwhelms, go to the One who has given you His Spirit to dwell in you. He will never leave you nor forsake you!

- When your schedule threatens to pull you in 10 directions, pause. Hold your plans (and your heart) up to the Lord with open hands, and ask Him to show you His will for you. Ask Him for wisdom and grace to walk in His way, and to be filled with His Words, no matter how busy things get around you. He will guide, and provide!

- When you’re wrestling with defining your worth by others’ opinions of you, saturate your mind with the truths about who He has made you in Christ. And do whatever it takes to keep meditating on them. He wants you to trust His character and His purposes for you fully!

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it! 

Notice that all of these “practices” involve the truths of His Word. Christ (quoting Moses in Deut 8:3) says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). True satisfaction can only come from unchanging Truth. 

But also notice that these truths are relational. He promises to fill us with Himself! (Read the entire Psalm to see this more clearly). As we behold Him in His Word, we are being transformed more and more into the image of Christ. He is producing in us the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace… We are not simply obeying commands. We are communing with Him, “filling up” on Him, obeying out of love and because we know it truly is the best thing for us! 

If our cup is filled with Him, everything else is overflow.

People’s opinions affect us, but not to the same degree. 

We enjoy earthly gifts, but only insomuch as they cause us to acknowledge the Giver.

We feel the weights of the burdens of this life, but they don’t crush us. 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. This is what it looks like to abide!

Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would grow in our desire and ability to receive His Words and live them out in every practical area of our lives. And let’s encourage and help each other pursue this together! ❤️🙏🏼

Anna 

Open your mouth and…

Hi Ladies,

I mentioned a while back that I thought the Lord was doing something around the theme of words. Between Pastor Jason's Proverbs series and the ladies' study through James, it's certainly proving true in my own life! And it seems no matter which part of the Bible I am reading or studying beyond these two right now, that theme keeps surfacing. Sometimes it is through very vivid pictures. 

I want to share one with you, in hopes that it will encourage and motivate you this week as it has me. We find the directive "open your mouth" or similar statements almost 30 times in Scripture. The majority of them refer to speaking. However, I read one in Psalms that stopped me:

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." (Ps. 81:10)

Can you picture it? Sinful creatures (you and me) standing like tiny stalks on this giant globe, gazing up toward heaven with our mouths gaping open, desperate to be satisfied. And our Infinite, intimate Creator is there, waiting and eager to fill us to overflowing.

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it," He says.

How often do we look horizontally for filling? John Piper keenly notes, "The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world." (A Hunger For God) We might think we're okay because we don't crave sin. But have we curbed our hunger for Him by filling up on His gifts instead? 

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." 

If we are filled to overflowing with Him, what comes out? 

Now, we are ready to open our mouths and speak words of life, words of wisdom, words of joy and peace and hope. 

Let's pray for one another this week, that we would look up, open up, and let Him fill us up and satisfy us with Himself. And then let’s go be who He wants us to be for one another. ❤️🙏 

Anna