Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

What joy is set before us that will help us endure our temptations, trials, adversities, hardships, and circumstances that seem impossible? 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

Gazing at the Lord brings inner transformation. 1 Corinthians 3:18. Peter, James, and John were on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured. Matthew 17:8 says, “When they had lifted their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

Don’t be distracted by your tests. Center your focus on the Lord. Remain in His Presence and the external will fade.

Temptations test our faithfulness to God. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful…”  Trials test our faith. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire…”

Adversity tests our strength. Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Galatians 6:9 ~ not faint. Endurance is the test of our love. 1 Corinthians 13:7 says of love, “Bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.”

James 1:12 says, “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.” Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

Our heart is our belief center. We are encouraged throughout Scripture to hide His word in our heart. When we don’t it allows spiritual weeds to propagate quickly. Mark 4:19 calls them: cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and desire for other things, “…choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “…do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Unresolved issues are ‘places’ that the enemy uses against us. Note that giving ground over to satan followed the warning to not go to bed with anything smoldering in  our heart.

Being angry comes in many forms. We might excuse this sin by camouflaging it in words such as frustrated, annoyed, or irritated. They are all reactions from our fleshly desires. Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy…” Verse 10 ends with, “…in honor giving preference to one another.”

James 1:14-15. It says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin…” I meditated on these verses for several days. 

Embryo thoughts about a temptation quickly escalate into full-blown sin. Nip the thought in the bud,  making your next thought focused on the Lord’s holiness. 1 Peter 1:15 says, “…be holy in all your conduct.” Our conduct is outward evidence of our inner thought life.

Temptations to sin are deceptively hidden within our own secret desires. There could be no enticement otherwise. What were you addicted to or still are addicted? If negativism – beware that there is no buried offense.

Mind addictions: worry, fear, anxiety, self-hatred, complaining, negativity, etc. It all starts with one thought that comes into our mind unbidden. Don’t take the bait.

James 1:7-8 says, “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Dialoguing with doubt allows fear and worry to creep in. 

Matthew 6:25 says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry…” Worry is an effective tool of the enemy to distract us. Worry is preoccupation with things that cause anxiety, stress, and emotional fatigue.

We cannot change anything from our past, nor do we know what will take place in the next moment. To be preoccupied with either is futile emotional energy. Futile means fruitless, empty, unproductive, ineffectual, and worthless.

Abraham did not waver in unbelief. Romans 4:20 Amplified says, “…but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.” The moment you start to doubt, praise the Lord for His faithfulness. It will block the power of satan’s temptation.

James 1:5 bids us to ask the Lord when we need wisdom to navigate through our trials. Verse 6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

‘Doubting nothing’ were the exact words spoken to Peter in Acts 10:20. It means in the sense of hesitating, having misgivings, being divided in decision making, or wavering between hope and fear. 

One who is resolute is immovable, fully persuaded, purpose-driven, unchanging, no compromise, steadfast, and intentional. Daniel purposed in his heart long before he was ever placed in a compromising situation.

On the other hand, Eve took the bait when the serpent placed doubt in front of her. He questioned what God had said. When she considered his question she fell right into his trap. Doubting is a mental roller coaster ~ don’t take the hook.

Our impatience is from our screaming flesh. Here is why we struggle. The Holy Spirit is resisting our flesh and our flesh is resisting the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly reactions are chaff that cling to our wheat. Our trials are like a sieve that separates the chaff from the grain. 

Amos 9:9 was about Israel being sifted. It says, “…as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.” Matthew 17:20 likens our faith as the size of a mustard seed. 

Romans 12:3 says that we each have a measure of faith. Peter charged his readers to add to their faith. My dad called them inward graces. Peter repeatedly wrote about the knowledge of God ~ essential.

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask Him.

We are either adding to our faith, or we are subtracting from it. Pursuing fleshly lusts weakens our faith. Daily reading God’s word, taking it to heart, and allowing it to bring course correction strengthens our faith.

Romans 10:17 says, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” However James adds to this. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

What we do after we hear the word, determines how we endure our trials ~ with patience or impatience. John 14:21 says that the Lord will reveal Himself to those who keep His word. He is with us in our crucible, just like He was with the three Hebrews young men in the fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 says, “…When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Only our fleshly chaff is consumed.

2 Peter 1:5 says, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith…” Diligence is a character quality that is developed during our trials. We must diligently guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23. We must diligently listen to the Lord. Isaiah 55:3. Diligent to not let bitter roots spring up. Hebrews 12:15

2 Peter 1:5-7 recorded what we are to add: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Verse 8 says, “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Verse 9 says, “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” That was the problem with the children of Israel. They were impatient and kept looking back. They forgot He delivered them from slavery to the Egyptians.