[Discoveries] 04-14-08 They can't bite -- James 1:2

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

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/*... the testing of your faith develops perseverance. -- James 1:2*/

I like to walk out in nature. That's my way of connecting with God. For 
walkers, here in Wisconsin we have three seasons: one month of yellow 
jackets followed by seven months of cold followed by four months of 
mosquitoes. Sometimes in the summer months, the marsh where I like to 
walk is filled with angry, biting, hungry, swarming insects. Years ago I 
would take a quick walk, swatting madly at the bugs feeding on my flesh, 
and race back to the car, miserable and defeated. Sometimes I went the 
chemical route, but I'm not sure DEET is much better than the mosquitoes.

Then one day I met a fellow who was wearing a mosquito net outfit. While 
I was trying to kill deer flies and mosquitoes before they bit me, he 
was calmly enjoying his walk. So I made a decision. I didn't care 
whether it looked cool or not, I decided to buy a bug net.

After I bought the net, I went for a walk. It didn't take long for the 
mosquitoes to find me. At first there were two or three, but it wasn't 
long before there must have been fifty or more. And, yes, I did get a 
couple bites -- one or two on my hand, and one or two when a mosquito 
found her way (only the females bite) under my bug net. But, for the 
most part, I walked along slightly distracted but fully protected.

It strikes me that God's grace is like the bug net. And my troubles are 
like mosquitoes. Before God brought truth to the inner parts (Psalm 
51:6), every little annoyance and irritation "drew blood" so to speak. 
But as God's grace covers more and more of my life, even when troubles 
swarm around me, they can't bite any more. Yes, they are there. But God 
doesn't allow them to land.

So what is perseverance? Perseverance is the miraculous, God-given grace 
to walk through troubles, look around and realize that they no longer bite.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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