Welcome to Unshakable , a daily Christian devotional podcast . I'm Reverend Ben Cooper and each day we open up God's word to strengthen our faith , encourage our hearts and help us to stand on the word of God no matter what life throws our way . This is a listener-supported podcast and we can't do this without you . If this ministry is blessing you , please consider supporting us by £3 a month . Buy me a coffee . You can support us on rbchristianradionet . Every gift makes a difference , so , please , we value your prayers . Your support helps us reach people on the other side of the world for the gospel of Jesus Christ . And once again , welcome to the daily Christian devotional podcast , unshakeable . Let's dive into the devotion today and discover the power of God's unshakable truth . We are going to the New Testament this morning , this afternoon or the evening , wherever you are , for this devotional time together . And we're going to James . We're going to go to James , chapter one , and we're going to pick it up in verse 2 , 3
and 4 . The Bible says consider it pure joy , my brothers , when you face trials of many kinds , because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance . Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete , not lacking anything . What a scripture . Perseverance in trials . James , chapter 1 , verses 2 to 4 . What is your life looking like at this moment in time ? The Bible says consider it pure joy . But , jesus , do you know my life ? Jesus , can you see every area of my life ? Lord , my life is upside down , inside out . Lord , my life is all over the place . Father , I call on you today . Lord , I'm laughing , but , lord , I'm trembling as I say this . Lord , father , consider it pure joy . You want me , lord , to consider pure joy in the fiery trials of life . Lord , I'm stretched financially , lord , I'm stretched , lord , in relationships . Lord , I'm stretched at work . I'm stretched at home . I'm stretched in ministry . Lord , I'm stretched in church . Lord , I'm stretched at school education . Lord , you want me to consider it pure joy , lord . Perseverance in trials , lord , I'm weary . Is anybody weary out there today ? We want to encourage you today to hold on to the word of God , because God's word will bring peace , god's word will lift you , god's word will carry you Perseverance in trials . What are the trials we are facing ?
Speaker 1As bible believing believers , I believe the anointing of god is over your life . I believe today , through this devotional , god is calling you and the text that we are in is speaking to each and every one of us . Consider it pure joy . My brothers , when you face trials of many kinds , lord , you're not just telling me there's going to be one , but , lord , many kinds . Lord , I need strength Because you know verse 3 , because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance .
Speaker 1I've got to go through the trial . I've got to go through the fire . I've got to go through the trial . I've got to go through the fire . I've got to go through the river . I've got to go through the storm . I've got to go through , as the psalmist writes so beautifully in Psalm 23 , I've got to go through the valley .
Speaker 1Maybe it's like a Garden of Gethsemane experience when Jesus was in the garden and he said God , if it's possible , could you take this from me ? But silence from heaven , no word from the Father , just Jesus crying , sweating droplets of blood through the trial . He knew what he was facing . He had to go through the Garden of Gethsemane to get strengthened . Maybe , just maybe , we're having a Garden of Gethsemane experience and I wonder how Christ was in his mind in that situation . I can gather very slightly , as he went through that trial , as he went through that trial , as he went through that stretching , as he went through that testing . Could we allow ourselves to say that Jesus was tested in the garden of Gethsemane ? I believe he was , because he said Father , if it is possible , if there is another way , please could you take this cup from me .
Speaker 1I believe that every one of us , myself included , are being pushed beyond human reasoning , stretched beyond the human understanding of the mind . We are living in very powerful days . We are watching things across the news that can be very dishurting and can cause complicated thoughts in our mind , and we are looking at a world that is just moving so fast and there are trials everywhere . But the bible says my blessings are new every morning . I can't afford to look at the news and to take in what is happening and allow that to affect my faith , because I gotta trust God in every situation .
Speaker 1So , as I read this scripture today , coming from James , chapter 1 , verse 2 , lord , help me to consider it pure joy . Help me to consider pure joy in the face of adversity , lord , when I do a 360 degree
turn around and there are many trials , because that's what the Bible says consider it pure joy , my brothers , when you face . So , lord , you tell me that I will face trials of many kinds in the house , out the house , at work , not at work . In school , out of school . In business , out of business , commuting , traveling , financial , emotional , emotional trials .
Speaker 1Life is a trial . Life is a an exercise ground where I've got to keep moving . I've got to be like an athlete . I've got to make sure that I I keep in training . How do I keep in training ? I read the word . I trust the word , because the word will build my faith , the word will give me peace . The word of god will give me strength in the face of adversity , because the Bible tells me very , very clear consider it pure joy , my brothers , when you face trials of many kinds , many kinds .
Speaker 1So , father , I thank you that right now there might be many kinds of trials before me . Shall we break a moment and just have a moment of prayer . Father , I come to you now and through this scripture , this morning , this afternoon , this evening , wherever we are scattered across the world , I do pray , father , for every one of us , that we will consider it pure joy . And as we go through the fiery furnace right now , lord , I pray that sickness will bow . At the name of Jesus , lord the trials , dear God , of health , the trials of financial pain . Lord , will you bring healing today , in the name of Jesus .
Speaker 1So , lord , I thank you for the power of prayer . I thank you , lord , that perseverance is developing , lord , within us and peace is around us . But today , lord , as we go through the trial , through this prayer time , through this devotional moment , lord , with you for these 15 minutes , father , we pray for such an outpouring of your spirit . So , lord , as we go through the trials of life , father , as we go and kneel in the garden of gethsemane this morning with tears running down our face , lord , as we travel to work , lord , as we commute to a job that is really hard and tiring , lord , and when we're getting treated really bad , holy spirit , please , as we go to the trial of work , the trial of life , the trials of Lord , as we go into areas , lord , of unfamiliar territory .
Speaker 1Lord , of these trials of life , father , we thank you that perseverance in trials . So , lord , I pray that this perseverance will turn to faith . Today , I pray that we will find such a strength in it , such a peace in the word of God . On this day , because this is the day that the Lord has made , I shall rejoice and be glad . And I need your strength , father . So , lord , help me through this prayer time , to consider this pure joy , that as I go through the fiery furnace of life , as I go through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil , because the joy of the Lord is my strength . And I pray , lord , for everybody listening to this devotion today , this devotional podcast , that the spirit of the living God will bless them wherever they are , in the glorious name of Jesus , and your love will just wrap around everybody today .
Speaker 1So , lord , as we reflect on the scriptures through prayer , through supplication , through meditation , this morning , father , help me consider it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds of different distances . Lord , short distance , long distance . Father , come Holy Spirit , this testing . Father , you tell me , lord , because it says in verse 3 , because you know , the testing of your faith develops perseverance . Lord , I'm not sure if I want to be tested in my faith . Lord , I'm not sure how I'm coping , lord , as a Bible-believing believer . So , lord , I need you . Lord , you tell me that faith cometh by hearing the message , and the message
is heard through the Word of God . So , lord , through this raw recording , this devotional podcast , this reality of life that I live , as I walk forward , as I move forward , as I experience the trials of life as a human being , but also as a Bible-believing believer , a born-again Christian Father , will you help me ? Because , lord , I need to persevere in trials , according , lord , to your word .
Speaker 1James , chapter 1 , 2 to 4 , spirit of the Living God , I don't feel I've got strength today . Lord , sisters and brothers , do you feel that you've got strength today ? And , brothers , do you feel that you've got strength today ? Are you lacking enthusiasm ? Are you lacking in that fervor ? Have you reached that , that end of the tarmac of the road of life ? And you're saying to yourself I can't cope with another trial . If anything happens at work , I don't know how I'm going to react . I'm , I'm at the end of this relationship at this moment in . I don't know how I'm going to react . I'm at the end of this relationship at this moment in time . I don't know how I'm going to be . Lord , I've reached the end of the money pot , lord . The wages have gone , lord , and I've still got another week or more to go .
Speaker 1Lord , universal credit , social housing , mortgages to pay rent , to pay on businesses what trials are you facing today ? Spiritual trials , physical trials . What are you facing today ? I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you and God will guide you , and the fire of God will lift you up like never before . I thank God for your life , I thank God for everything that you're in and I pray today that the love of Jesus Christ will just be wrapped around you as you experience life . And life is a trial . Life is an experience , Life is beautiful , life is powerful . Life can be scary because it moves in and out of everything , and I pray that , wherever you are right now , in the mighty name of Jesus Christ , that the fire of God will descend on you and you will feel his very presence and the anointing and the love of God .
Speaker 1As we gently just gently pedal out of this devotional podcast , I'm going to read this scripture again , and this is for me and this is for you . Today , the spirit of the Lord is over you . Everything will be okay . So , through this 15 minutes of devotional time , together and with the Holy Spirit , let's listen to this scripture one more time James , chapter 1 , verse 2 to 4 .
Speaker 1Consider it pure joy , my brothers , when you face trials of many kinds , because you know , the testing of your faith develops perseverance . Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete , not lacking anything . Do you know what ? Through the trial , we're going to lack nothing . Through the valley , we're going to lack nothing . And through God's unshakable word of God , I pray today with all of my being that you will feel his love and his mercy , and his goodness and the presence of the Holy Spirit will just be with you wherever you are . God loves you . There is power in the name of Jesus Christ .
Speaker 1Thank you for joining us today . Wherever you are across this world , may the anointing of God be over you . As I just said . Thanks for joining
us today on Unshakeable , a daily Christian devotional podcast . If today's devotion has encouraged you , please consider sharing this episode out to your family , your friends , your pastors , your leaders , your church group , your social networks . It will help people discover God's word . And please remember this is a listener supported ministry and you can find us on rbchristianradionet . Please pray us , but also buy us a coffee . It's so easy to do . Click the coffee cup on RB Christian Radio and help us push the word of God . And remember I'm Reverend Ben Cooper . Stay strong , stay rooted . I'll see you tomorrow for another unshakable word from Scripture . God bless you .