Mature and Complete - Lacking Nothing

 MATURE AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING

We read these words in the Bible and wonder how we can achieve this?

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:4

How do we live mature and complete, lacking nothing?  Apparently by persevering in the grace of God in the middle of challenging circumstances because the verses just before the one above say this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3

To experience the full goodness of God’s plan for our lives we have to embrace the truth that we will face lots of trials along the way and we will need to hold onto the truth of what God has said in the middle of circumstances that don’t give evidence of that.

Too often, instead of that, we fall to the temptation that our emotions and jumbled thoughts present to us.

These words can help us in these kinds of challenging circumstances:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James 1:19-21

Heavenly Father, we all long to be mature and complete, lacking nothing but the process of getting there is filled with situations we’d rather avoid. 

Give us courage and perseverance, Holy Spirit so we indeed can be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  Keep us from our own flawed ways of trying to meet our needs that so often lead us down paths of evil and moral filth. 

Help us today to humbly accept and walk true to the Word of truth that You’ve put in us.  So today we’re simply asking for faith and courage so we can practice Your principles in all our affairs. 

Fill up our desire for what is right.  Fill up our willingness to put what we know to do into practice.  Give us perseverance to continue in what You’ve shown us so we become everything You have in mind for us.  Amen

Challenging word for all of us so one other thing we can do is to pray for one another that we will all be those who persevere in humbly holding onto God’s truth today and allowing our behaviour and attitudes to be shaped by it. Mature and complete, lacking nothing.  Let’s go for it today.

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Resources For 12 Steps