Pure Joy

The above reminds me of how I react to "those"circumstances in my life that take me by surprise and are not comfortable. But James has had a little important info for me lately.
Have a fourth that is filled with PURE JOY! Why do I say that? Read on.

I am in the process of reading the book of James. It talks of things that go against the normal grain of my flesh. Such lovely things as, "Considering it PURE JOY, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds". Why? "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance". What good is perseverance in my everyday muck and yuck? "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Have I been persevering lately? Not in all things.
So today my goal with the help of the Holy Spirit of course, is to get out of the way and let perseverance take over. She has a work to complete and she will not give up until she has a mature finished product.
Wonder what I will look like?
So today when I face trials---I will try and consider it pure joy.

Here is a little something from my devotional by Elisabeth Elliot--hmmmmmmmm. :)

To accept adversity, obviously, goes against the grain of all of us. We don't like adversity. Acceptance takes fortitude and faith--faith that Somebody knows what this trouble is all about and has the situation well in hand. In other words, acceptance is submission to God Himself. Often the real proof of our obedience is the willingness to submit, not only to adversity, but also to the specific individuals whom God has put over us (and sometimes this comes to the same thing--those individuals spell "adversity!"). Take a close look at what James says: whatever tests our faith leads in the end to the right sort of independence.