Good morning,

Our devotion for today comes from James 1:2-4 "My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble.  You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested.  But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything." (CEV) 

Wherever you are today, meditate on this; your Heavenly Father desires that you experience Him as a living God who is involved in your everyday life.  He will use all kinds of occurances to build your intimacy with Him because He wants you to know Him in His fullness.
    

The Bible explains that a "normal" life does not mean one that is problem free. (Job 5:7) Life is full of difficulties to be handled and troubles to be overcome.  Today's passage tells how to maintain a positive outlook.
    

Remember that you are learning to know God in all His fullness.  To know Him as comforter means you must have a need of comfort.  In hard to endure situations, you discover He is a source of strength.  His faithfulness is evident when others have been unfaithful.  To know Him as wisdom is to recognize that you lack it or that the advice of someone else was unwise.  The trustworthiness of God shines brighter when those around you are unreliable.  Each of these situations, while bringing pain, can also be a source of joy as you discover more deeply who God is.
    

The greater your intimacy with God, the more you will understand His plan, His will, and His purpose.  You will begin to sense the depth and breadth of His love for you, and a satisfying closeness will develop.  Out of gratitude, you will begin living in ways increasingly pleasing to Him.  Knowing God starts on the day of salvation and continues throughout eternity.  Celebrate that you have a God who wants to be up close and personal. 

Have a blessed personal day!

Your brother in Christ,
J. H. Flakes, III