Only three dates had gone by when I heard it.
This is the man you will marry.
I cannot say I have heard an audible voice from God any time in my entire life, except for this.
You see, I had been praying for the six months prior that God would not let me date – not even kiss – a single man I was not going to marry. I was ready to be single for however long that took, simply because I was tired of dating around and wanted to only date and marry the one.
I met Chris on a Thursday, and he took me out for the first time on Wednesday. In the next seven days,
he took me out five times. You read that right. From 45 minutes away, he drove in to treat me like I had never been treated before: Symphonies, fancy restaurants and surprise gifts suddenly made regular appearances in my life.
The guy thought I hung the moon.
I had so much fun being treated like this, and though I really liked him, I wasn’t sure yet that he was the one. I know, I had known him for a total of nine days, and I wasn’t sure? 
I kept telling God, “Ok, it’s getting harder and harder to dodge this guy’s kisses, can you please let me know one way or another?”
~~~
He picked me up after my Tuesday night class and took me for ice cream.
That’s when I heard it.
This is the man you will marry.
Three seconds later, Chris leaned in to kiss me. And I didn’t dodge it.
~~~
In the following days, I continued to wrestle. I knew I heard that voice. It was clear, decided and direct.
But really? That’s kind of a big deal to ‘hear a voice’ – Would if he’s not the one I will marry?
I really liked Chris: he was good looking, a solid Christian, was educated, had a great job and we had a blast when we were together.
But I doubted and wavered – a lot.
~~~
A few weeks later, Chris’s whole family drove 4 hours to come meet me. I stayed in the hotel with Chris’s sister, Heather, during their visit – and one night, we each sat on our beds reading. I prayed for God to really give me wisdom whether it was his voice I heard, and let me know once more if Chris was the one.
I opened my journal on October 19, 2004 and wrote:
“Lord, if Chris is the one I have prayed for all my life, bless our relationship and let me realize your will. But if not, show me and do not let hearts be unwrapped.
I opened my Bible and starting reading James 1. I read through it, copying James 1:17 into my journal.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
And that’s all I wrote down out of James One.
…Until about five minutes later, when Chris’s sister chimed in from across the room.
“I’m reading James 1 right now,” she said.
I smiled out of surprise – out of the whole Bible, we both had just read the exact same chapter. She continued:
The verses that stuck out to me the most were James 1:5-8. But especially verse six. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…
I was utterly speechless. I had prayed – even wrote down – just minutes before to hear clearly if Chris really was the one. I opened my Bible and read James 1 – completely reading over verses 5-8. And in my denseness, the Lord spoke up once again – through Heather – to answer me in another clear, decided and direct message.
I journaled once again, “Lord I read right passed these verses just minutes ago, but you had Heather sit right next to me – reading the same chapter of the Bible – and read aloud the very verses that answered the prayer I wrote just minutes ago. You are good.”
I didn’t come out and tell Chris – or anyone besides my journal, for that matter – that I was going to marry Chris. I didn’t want to be that crazy girlfriend.
But I knew.
Four months later, he knew too.
And we got engaged.
In the past, James 1 solidified God’s plan for my future.
He’s used it since them to remind me of his faithfulness and my own wavering.
And this week, when faced with criticism regarding my July 4th post, it reminded me to be slow to get angry…slow to speak.
I cannot think of a chapter in the Bible that would have been more applicable for me this week. I’m so glad you ladies voted James as our book to study. Like I said, it wasn’t even my choice, but God knew I’d need it.
What has he taught you? Which verses meant the most? Did you memorize one? Love you all!
Homework
(Due Thursday, July 14, 2011)
Read: James 2
Study Tips
- Read the chapter through each day
- Each day, pick a few different verses to focus on:
1. Use your cross-reference guide (usually in the margins of your Bible) to look up different verses that speak on the same subject. 2. Ask yourself how these verses apply to you? What do they mean in your life? How can you use these verses TODAY?
Memorize one verse:
| I’m choosing to memorize |
James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Questions to ponder throughout the chapter (in order of appearance):
- How are we to view others?
- Personal: Do I show favoritism toward the wealthy over the poor? Clean over the dirty?
- How are we to treat others?
- How are we to speak and act?
- Where is the balance between faith and works?
(Delayed response I know [sorry])… I read the blog when I first got the e-mail but for whatever reason life seems to be in CHAOS right now. Perhaps that is why verses 2-8 on Faith and Wisdom speak to me… “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.”
Bre’anna … I knew the day I met Bruce that some day we would be married. Went home and told my Mother that day. Although Bruce did not figue it out for quite some time. We have been married now over 40 years. GOD does have a plan for our lives. Was not asking HIM about things then and neither was Bruce but HE knew.
I love studying the Bible with my precious sisters in Christ! And Bre’anna, your story is precious beyond words!!
The verses in James 1 that spoke the most to me: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
I have lived with a rare illness since I was 12 years old – I’m now 32. I also lost one of my very best friends, my dad, in an airplane crash 3 1/2 years ago. The Lord has called me into ministry work, but how can I truly relate with others unless I have experienced trials myself? As I see the projects the Lord now has in front of me, I see that there is no way they would be happening without the trials I have had to face.
I would not trade the trials in my life for anything, as extremely difficult as they have been and still are at times. If just one person comes to know the Lord through the testimony He has written through my life, the pain and suffering were worth every minute.
For those of you facing trials…God will not allow them without a beautiful purpose. Know that in the midst of your trials, He is molding you into the person you are supposed to be. One day you will look back upon trials in your life and will be thankful.
Whatever you may be facing today, consider it pure joy, my sisters. All things (the good, the bad, and the in between) work together for good for those who love the Lord. (Romans 8:28)
The book of James could not have come at a better time in my life. I needed the reminder of James 1:2-4 this week. Thank you all for this opportunity to grow closer to our Heavenly Father along with you! ♥
I’m working on memorizing James 1:17, and pretty much have it down. On vacation this week – so trying to be diligent in my reading!
Thanks for sharing how God confirms his will through his Word! Powerful!
I want to be completely honest and say I did not study James this week like I wanted to or needed to. What I put into it is what I will get out of it. With that said I don’t have a lot to share this week but there were a couple of things that have stuck out to me and how God has used the book of James in my life.
When we my husband and I received our court date for our son in Africa our baby girl was just a few days old. The court date was a month out and there was no way that both of us were going to be able to go. My husband, who I call superman;), journeyed over there to bring our son home. If you have adopted or followed an adoption you know that it is not a walk in the park. There are so many ups and downs. Especially when adopting overseas. I had no idea when my husband and son were going to be home. During the first week he was in Africa there were a chain of events that had to occur for them to come home within two weeks or they were going to be staying four weeks or longer. To make this a short post here is the post my husband wrote when he was in Africa explaining the details: http://theochardsyield.blogspot.com/2011/04/god-doing-his-thing.html (Let me know if the link doesn’t work… you might have to copy and paste.. not sure) That evening my heart was so heavy because of all the unknowns. Well, actually I had an emotional breakdown. I had no control over when my family would be together again and the sleep deprivation that I was experiencing of having a 2 year old and newborn didn’t help
! It was after midnight and almost morning in Africa and God used James 1:1-6. The Lord’s voice was so clear to my heart, “Daughter, these events are what I am using to sanctify you. What I am using to produce endurance. You must pray.” It was 1 something in the morning and I am pacing my living room praying while holding my sweet baby girl. I was praying, pleading for God’s hand to work out the details and to do something only HE could do. AND HE did! Tears fill my eyes now because it wasn’t that long ago and how easily we forget. God was so clear that it wasn’t going to come “easy”. I had to pray… I had to get on my knees during this trial and ask without doubting. It was going to produce endurance in me and this needed to all happen even though I did not like the feeling of the unknown. I needed to PRAY my husband and son home. Prayer is the work and then God works!
The verse I’m going to memorize for James 1 is “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” Also, I don’t think it’s by coincidence that James talks about being a doer of the word and then states that “pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. “ These have been challenging words for me. Not to just speak the gospel but put the gospel into action; take care of the least of these (Matthew 25: 35-46).
I’m looking forward to diving into James 2 this week and listening to God.
Sara
Incredible, Sara. What a testimony! I say this a lot – and I really believe there is no act on earth more pleasing to God than to adopt and care for orphans. Beautiful.
<3 you. =)
Thanks Bre’anna for sharing your story of how God has used His word in your life! Pretty amazing!
This week I read James in different versions on my phone when I woke up and sometimes before bed. It was great to have a passage to stick with all week!
James 1: 2-4 “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. ”
I have had some challenges and pressure this week and for awhile now and it has really been showing my true colors. I tend to want to run away from my problems, which is not a good idea. I want to become mature and well-developed! I am choosing to believe that God will perfect me through these struggles.
James 1: 12″ Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”
I want to be loyally in love with God and have life and more life, so I am going to persevere during these tough times and believe in God’s promises.
Megan – GREAT verses and insights! I really loved studying one chapter all week too. I was amazed at how much I retained and applied.
Bre’anna-
I’m at a very different place in my life right now than you were when you opened James and read that first verse: my husband and I are currently separated after almost 3 years of marriage, and I’ve been praying for God to make it blatantly obvious in the next few months whether to fight for this marriage, or realize that He has better things planned for me.
I read your post last week, and have LOVED reading James 1. It’s been interesting to read the same chapter every day, because different things definitely stand out on different days.
The first words that stood out were verses 2-5: “consider it PURE JOY whenever you face TRIALS of many kinds, because you know that the TESTING of your faith develops PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be MATURE and COMPLETE.” This gave me hope and reminded me that no matter what happens, God is watching out for my best interests and HE can guard my heart (even if my husband cannot) while still challenging me to grow closer to Him. I am in definite need to maturation in my faith… that’s the only way I will get through this time in my life.
Another day, God pointed out verse 6: “When he asks, he must believe and not doubt.” I’ve been asking for wisdom and clarity in decision-making regarding my relationship, but that day I had been doubting that God would do what I want (heal my husband and bring him back to me). After reading this, I had to ask myself: why would I doubt God? He is the ONLY one who has my best interests in mind. Of course whichever path He leads me down will be to His glory.
A few days ago, I was starting to get angry- at God, at my husband, at this situation, at my lack of clarity, at my lack of patience. Of course then verses 19-21 stood out to me: “Everyone should be quick to listen, SLOW TO SPEAK, and slow to become angry, for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life 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!” I resisted calling my husband with harmful words and accusations which surely would have driven him further away, and instead prayed about it.
Thank you! And I can’t wait to see what the next few chapters/weeks bring.
Thanks for being open to us about your struggles! I pray that you and your husband can become closer to God and His love for you!
Therese, I am so sorry for your situation. I know your heart must be so broken. I don’t know if you saw it or not, but on the ‘Resources’ tab above, I have marriage conference/retreat/therapy link at http://nationalmarriage.com
As far as reuniting broken marriages, their success rate is over 80% – which is incredible. I hope you will check into that. Please keep up updated – especially how we can pray. If it’s more private, send me a facebook message.
I still remember meeting you for the first time! Chris called us and wanted us to meet you and I thought, Wow this must be really serious! I still remember we had the best dessert made by you of course that night! Haha! Good memories.
Ha! I remember that night! I promise you that was the night he just knew he had to marry me. He asked me about 2 weeks later.
I loved chewing on James 1 this week! I am embarrassed to speak of how little I consistently read the bible. I havecrecently made a commitment to do so. I decided to follow James with this blog study and James 1 could not have been more perfect for this week. Quick to listen and slow to anger is the exact concept I need to work on and believing I will get an answer when I pray and ask. Can’t wait to read James 2!
As for your July 4th blog, I absolutely loved it! I am sorry you were criticized. It touched many more than you will most likely ever know about.
April, thanks for you honesty – it really is so hard to be consistent. I heard a sermon once in college from a preacher who talked on pride, and how he arrogantly bragged that he hadn’t missed a day in reading the Bible in years. He talked about how wrong that was. I think we can err on both sides.
I hope this study helps all of us in our consistency – and in really learning what we are reading! I loved thinking this week about various situations that verses applied. For me, reading over a whole week sure makes a difference than reading it once quickly and moving on.
This is a wonderful story Bre’anna! Of God’s faithfulness as well as your patience and diligence to hear. Before I started dating Michael I had a scenario similar to yours in that I told God that I just wanted to focus my life around Him and stop looking for the right one and when God was ready for me to meet “him” He would provide the perfect timing. It is amazing isn’t it how God truly does always have the right timing, but just waits for us to depend on Him instead of ourselves? Thanks for sharing James 1. I plan to read it tonight!
I cannot tell you how many Christians I hear that from: As soon as they were 100% content in God, he gave them their spouse. Such a testimony of where our ‘completeness’ lies.
Bre’anna, I love this story of doubt and how God’s Word and The work of His Holy Spirit through His daughter Heather spoke right into your heart! I think we can all relate to this wavering! Thanks for sharing – it can cause one to become vulnerable, yet you touch so many hearts with your willingness to share in truth. Even if it means you admit that you’ve “wavered” in some way! I am encouraged by a Christian who will humble themselves in this way so that others might find they are lifted by the “humanness” of those who seem so “perfect” in their walk.
As for me, it was verse 19 who spoke the loudest, though the entire chapter was chalk full of insight and wisdom for my expanding heart and mind. I find I am rather quick to speak and become angry yet many times s-l-o-w to listen. Then…in verse 20, it hits me like a ton of bricks…”for (my) anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (no matter HOW righteous I believe my anger is in that moment!). And v. 21b goes on to say…”and HUMBLY accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” If I’m not willing to HUMBLY accept It, I am lead to believe that this Word which is “planted” will not grow and bear good fruit. So, Lord, I thank You for speaking gently into my heart and mind this week, that I might not continue to sin against You. Please forgive me for the anger I spew on others and that I so many times bring to Your mercy seat in MY righteousness and my will. May I continually seek Your will and NOT that You would bless my own.
Thanks for leading this movement, Bre’anna. (((Hugs))) T
And BTW – as for the July 4th ‘naysayers’ – Girl, that blog sooo touched my heart and the hearts of those I have shared with that I pray you would take rest in knowing many have been changed for Jesus through your sharing. It is an incredible story of God’s provision and willingness to step in when called by His people. To God alone be The Glory!
I love how you brought out that we need to humble ourselves before God! I need to do this more often!
Thank you, Tracie. My husband said it best, “When you get to heaven and talk to Paul, who was stoned to death for his faith, what are you going to say? “Well, I got some bad comments on my blog!”
Loved your thoughts of James 1!
Tell Chris that was a great way to put it into perspective! I’ll have to remember that when I’m feeling “persecuted” — perspective, it makes all the difference!