January 27 ~

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ... when you encounter various trials ... When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!
Js.1:2 (KJV,NAS,JBP)

In places difficult I look to Thee
and that is why in them Thou dost place me!--
to teach me Thou art always here at hand
until at last I catch on, understand
that by my "own" thoughts no more should I live
but only in the Peace and Love Thou give ...

For ’tis in Thee I find, ’spite circumstance,
the joy of Life -- Thy Life! ’Tis not by chance
the hard times come! Thou send them, Lord, to teach
this stubborn soul to turn from Self and seek
Thee out by faith each moment, till I find
Thee and have a regenerated mind!

My soul, count trials as joy! Enable me,
dear Lord, to in them - and all else! - find Thee ...

"I told you this so that nothing will upset your faith" ... "so that My joy will be in you" ... "so you will have peace in Me. In the world you have trouble. But have courage; I’ve conquered the world" ... "then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you ... when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you" ... Strip yourselves of your former nature -- put off and discard your old unrenewed self ... And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind ... and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) ... put on the Lord Jesus Christ ... my present life is not that of the old "I," but the living Christ within me ...
Jn.16:1, 15:11, 16:33 (Beck); Jer.29:12,13,14 (RSV); Eph.4:22,23,24 (Amp); Rom.13:14 (NAS); Gal.2:20 (JBP).

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