Transformed by His PromisesSample

ENDURANCE TODAY, GOD’S COMPLETE WORK TOMORROW

James 1:2-4 (NLT): "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind 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."

Mindful Minute: Though written almost 2,000 years ago, this verse perfectly describes the current science of the brain for building new habits in our unconscious mind when we battle anything as a result of habitual sin or something that has become a life-interfering behavior.

The interesting part of this instruction in today’s verse is to “consider it an opportunity for great joy” whenever trouble comes along. The reason we can be joyful about processing difficult or painful temptations is that once we endure, we have a chance to form a new neurological habit and grow from it.

Each time we succeed in diverting the temptation into something different, we form a new neural pathway that gets us out of the psychological slavery we have been accustomed to. That is surely a reason to be joyful!

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for this instruction. As I encounter difficult moments or temptation, I will remember to look at this as an opportunity to be joyful about the future once I rid myself of this habit and behavior that created havoc in my life. I will look for alternative ways to deal with the stress of the moment. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

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Each day on this journey, take time to pray the Lord’s Prayer, write down 10 things you’re grateful for, and reflect on how the Scripture spoke to you. These simple practices will open your heart to God’s presence and help you experience lasting renewal.