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“You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
(James 1:3)
When Jim and I first married, we lived on a honeymooner’s budget, which means we did most of our furniture shopping at the local flea market. One day we discovered a wonderful antique brass bed. Orangey and almost black from the oxidation of the metal, its dismantled pieces leaned against the wall of a dingy booth behind other sparkling, more desirable items. But the price was right for us.
That old bed instantly became a treasure to us. But it had to be cleaned before we could use it and be proud of it. So we hauled our find home, set it up, and Jim went to work on it to see what he could do about the discoloration.
When I checked on his progress, I felt alarmed that Jim hadn’t taken a soft cloth and polish to the brass bed. He was laboring away with steel wool and a caustic cleaner! And he rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed. The harder he rubbed, the brighter the brass shone. It came alive and was even more outstanding than we’d dreamed!
God’s testing of us through trials has a similar effect on our faith in Him. His trials are good for us. They bring out the best in us. Tests prove what we are made of and what we’ve learned—or not learned—as Christians. And they reveal how we’ve grown—or not grown. These tests are our vigorous “rubbing” by God.
Yes, we don’t understand fully the reasons for the tests and what they accomplish. And we perceive them as negative and painful. But remember that brass bed … and how it shone after some muscle work. Welcome the tests God sends your way. That way you will shine as a trophy of His grace!
A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus is a treasure trove of truths and applications that enable you to follow Jesus and let your light glorify God.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
I know from personal experience that living a life of prayer is not easy. Our lives are filled with a multitude of activities that tend to crowd out time for prayer. How many times have you been guilty of telling someone that you would pray for them? Your heart genuinely yearned to be a part of bringing their need before the throne of God. And then what happened? I’m sure that, if you’re like me, more times than you would like to admit, you forgot about the promise to pray before you rounded the corner of the church building! Why? Because you didn’t write the request down.
Paul knew the importance of strategic prayer in his own life and the lives of others. And he knew what to pray for. His prayers focused on spiritual issues. He knew that if those he was praying for were spiritually mature, they could handle anything.