Ask -Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Now, we have to be careful and remember that this promise doesn't necessarily mean we will get whatever what we want if we pray for it. The Book of James reminds us:

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

Patience Development -James 1:2-4

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

We can rest in the hardships of life, knowing that God is in control, and will even take the trials we are going through and use them to help us to grow more and more into His image.

Rest in Him!

Being Blessed -James 1:22-25

In James we find the secret to being blessed...obey God's Word!

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

The Father of Lights -James 1:17

This verse to me is a reminder to focus...any time that I lose track, and start to focus on the world, this verse points me back to reality. True happiness only comes from God. I really like the picturesque description used for God in this verse..."The Father of Lights." Jesus truly is "The Light of the world."

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

This really is an incomplete thought, however, so go read James, especially James 1! That will give a better perspective to this encouraging promise.

Endurance -James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

If you are anything like me, then you will understand how easy it is as human beings to lose perspective. I mean, the Children of Israel are a prime example. They had a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night leading them...and they still lost their focus.

I think God was trying to make a point to us as well. The fact that they had a physical reminder right in the sky...I mean, they just had to look up, and yet they still managed to go off track. We humans really are crazy.

And just in case you think I'm trying to harp on them...there is many times I look at myself and realize that I do exactly the same thing.

When I look at this promise, I see a good reminder to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, (look up!),  and to fight the good fight of faith!

There is a crown of life waiting!