Praying Through The Bible - Day 2 James 2

Today at work I found a Bible reader companion by Lawrence Richards, so I will also be using that while reading through the bible, it’s pretty nifty!

God show me your way through your word, guide me and teach m. let me leave all of my distractions at the door, and allow me to fully focus on you! God have your word bless my heart. Let me not get discouraged. Let my yes be my yeas and my no be my no. God thank you for answering my pray, and specifically my prayer to share about you with someone. God train me to continually trust in you!

“1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
- James 2

“1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," –Everyone wants to be rich and no one want to me poor – God make me rich in you and poor in the world. God I find it so easy to think sometimes about how in the end it wont matter about what I have materially, and that is true, but it doesn’t matter now either! God forgive me for my selfishness. Give me new eyes and ears to see and hear the world as you do. Forgive me and break me of my selfish and judgmental spirit.

4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
– Only god has the right to judge - God I’m sorry I try and “step” into your shoes, and try and tell you how I thinks should be done. God only you have the right and power to judge. Take away my eagerness to form an opinion about someone. God I thank you for giving me grace and mercy and for not treating me how I treat others. God take away my pride.

5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? – Might not be talking about money… What do I see as poor?- God may I be poor in the ways of the world but be rich in you and your ways. God give me a fulfilling life that is pleasing to you!

6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. – It doesn’t say love those who are easy to love. I really don’t like some of my “neighbors” – God I thank you for the things you show me in your scripture. “Love the people you feel are unloveable.” And from my past you have brought into my mind how I have epicly failed in this area. God Caiti’s name comes immediately to my mind. God there are no such things as coincidences so I praise you for showing your amazingness! God help me to address her right away and allow me to have the opportunity to love those who are hard to love.

9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. – Could break the law a little?? That’s like being a little bit pregnant. You are or you aren’t, you did or you didn’t. – God help me to remember that all sins are the same. My white lie I’m sure I told someone today is the same as someone who murders their entire family. It’s wrong and I need your forgiveness for it.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! – Don’t expect to be forgiven if you can’t forgive, The Lords prayer. – God make me a forgiver and God make me a forgetter. God allow me to forgive and then through your power let go!

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
– vs. 14-17 - #1 stop right away and pray, #2 do whatever you can to help. – vs. 17 – I’ll never be able to do enough or be good enough to earn salvation, but my actions show my commitment. – Vs 14-18 – you have to change, be deliberate, TURN and PICK UP YOUR FEET! Only faith that transforms us is truly Christian. – God I thank and praise you for the transformation you have done and are doing in my life. God I cannot thank you enough for sending your son for me, God renew my commitment to you daily. God I thank you for the opportunity you gave me at work to share you! God make me more aware of my surroundings. God the moment someone brings up a need, or the moment I realize it, let me immediately stop and pray with them or for them about it. God help me to be deliberate and intentional in my actions. Show me how to glorify you.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]?

21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? – I cannot imagine Abraham and certainly can’t imagine being God, to give up your son? Selfishly I wouldn’t give up my dog (okay maybe, but probably not) for someone I don’t know, let alone someone I don’t like – How amazing is gods love?!! – How great is your Love, so much higher than the heavens with faithfulness that reaches the sky! God thank you for loving me and creating me!

22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. – I’m not really sure what this means, The Bible Reader Companion says “No conflict”… help?

23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. – Desire of my heart – “To call you more than Lord, Glorious Friend” – God I thank you that you have opened your arms and heart to a personal relationship with me. God you are an everlasting God! Over and over in song I hear the promise of your friendship. “No greater love have I ever know, you considered me a friend, and captured my heart again.” God capture my heart each day anew. God to crave you and your word. To need it like our bodies need water! God Thank you for being available!

24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
- James 2

God I thank you for this day, I thank you for these people and the relationships I have with them. God may you speak to their hearts and give them the encouragement and confidence to share. Thank you for putting them in my life. God thinking over the conversarions you have given to me and especially last night, I can be a big dummy and I need to trust you! Over and over again I have pray “God give me this” and the next day I’ve had it. I prayed for a mentor, and you gave me one. I prayed for a better job, you gave me one. I prayed of the opportunity to share and you gave it to me. God help me to trust you in ALL things. God you know so much better and more how I cannot and shouldn’t even try to do this alone. God thank you for your love, grace and mercy.

All my baggage. All my pain. All my sin: shame, lust, pride, lies, deceit, Judment, selfishness. I’m leaving it here. I’m placing it at your feet. I’m leaving it here. I need your help. I’m going to want to pick it back up. But I know you love me enough! That it’s okay for me to let it go. For me to be free. – Here I am. All of me. Finally. Everything. Wholly. Wholly. Wholly. I am Wholly. Wholly. Wholly. I am Wholly. Wholly. Wholly. Yours. I am Wholly yours.