Day 65: James 1:14

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”



Remember last week when we were talking about temptation, and how you shouldn’t go around shaking your fist at the sky and blaming God? Well, here’s part two.


In today’s verse James explains how temptation is connected to none other than you know who. That’s right: you.


James says that temptation is a direct result of our own desires, and how we are lured and enticed by them into sinning against God.


So…what does this mean? What it means is that we can’t blame God because in the end we let ourselves be lured by our own evil, selfish desires. We can’t blame anyone but ourselves in the end, because we allow it to happen.


So how do you stop it? Well, that’s the hard part. You can’t. Not completely, and not this side of heaven. We won’t be perfect, but through God’s grace, we can sure slow temptation up. Here’s how.


Ask God to show you where your evil desires tempt you. He’ll do it. It might be painful to face, but He’ll do it.


After that, it’s a simple matter of staying away from those things that entice and tempt you to sin. Easy, right? No; easier said than done.


Pray for strength to stay away from those things that tempt you to sin. Flee from them. Don’t be surprised when you are tempted to drink when you’re standing around at a party with tons of alcohol. Don’t be surprised when you’re tempted to look at that porn site when it’s favorite on your browser.


Staying away from the things that tempt us is just smart. And as a Christian leader, you should know to stay away from the hot stove…because it will burn you.


Christian Leadership Principle: Temptation comes because we allow ourselves to be enticed by our own greed and evil desires. Stay away from those things that tempt you.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Proverbs 26:11


Prayer: Father, show me where I am week in character, and where I would be tempted to disobey you. Give me strength to flee from those things and situations. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 62: James 1:13

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”



You ever blame someone else for something you did? Me too. In fact, I’m pretty good at it. It’s always someone else’s fault, as far as I’m concerned, right?


It’s very easy to pass the blame to someone else, but a Christian leader never blames other people. They take the blame for whatever they have done. They are personally responsible.


This extends to every facet of their life, including the one James is talking about in today’s passage.


Sometimes, when we are tempted to sin, we are also tempted to look up at the sky, shake our fist, and ask why?


Have you ever found yourself doing this? We get so caught up in the frustration and fight of temptation that we look at God and know it must be His fault. Hold up.


We have to remember what temptation is and where it comes from.


First, temptation happens when we are presented with an opportunity to rebel against God. We consider it because it might be fun, or easier than God’s way, or whatever. This is temptation. God does not provide us with opportunities to rebel against Him. He knows too often we do it, and we certainly don’t need His help screwing up. Blaming God for temptation is passing the buck when it comes to screwing up. It’s all on us.


Second, temptation comes from Satan and demonic forces. When we are saved, our sins are blotted out in God’s eyes. Past, present, and future. Satan just likes to keep us out of fellowship with God and down and out on ourselves so we become useless for the kingdom. Remember that when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness it was Satan doing the tempting, not God (God tempting God?!).


When we are tempted, remember, it’s not God, because as James puts it so well, God cannot be tempted, and tempts no one.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Resist when you want to blame God for temptation. Temptation is Satan’s gig, and you act or don’t act on it accordingly.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Matthew 4:1-11


Prayer: Father, help me to see truth. Your word is truth. Help me to see the devil for who he is and what he does. Remind me that blame for screwing up is mine and mine alone, and blame for temptation is from Satan and his minions. Amen.

Day 44: James 1:6

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”



Do you believe that God wants to give you good things? Do you believe the Bible when it says that God will answer prayers? Then why do we doubt?


Doubt is born of unbelief. It is a sure sign that there is still unbelief in us.


Remember the man who brought his son before Jesus for healing. Remember the man’s plea: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”


James is specifically referring here to asking for wisdom in prayer. He says that you should ask in complete confidence that it will be given to you. When we ask for things that are in God’s will, He will be faithful in giving them to us.


And always remember, God always answers our prayers. We may not get the answer we like, but there is always an answer. “No” is an answer. So is “not now.” We may not want those answers, but we often get them. When God seems silent to your prayer, have faith; He has answered.


James goes on to say that anyone who asks in doubt will not be answered. Why is this? Because God deals with us when we treat Him for who He is: God. The Creator of the universe. Doubting Him or His answer shows how much faith we have in Him. He answers the faithful.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: When we pray, we should do so with complete faith. Pray knowing that God will answer.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on Today: Matthew 7:7-11


Prayer: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Increase my faith, Lord. In Christ’s name, amen

Day 42: James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him”



We all lack wisdom; every one of us. There are a lot of things that we don’t understand, let alone know how to use in our daily life.


This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just the truth. So many of us, especially in leadership, think that we have to have all of the answers. We think that if we don’t, we have somehow failed ourselves, our education, and those people we serve. Nothing could be further from the truth.


Here’s the deal: God wants to give us wisdom. He spends a lot of time throughout the Bible talking about wisdom. It’s clear that with God it’s not enough just to know something, but to apply what you know in your life. Paul says as much in Romans 6.


James gives those of us who walk with Christ good news. James says “if you don’t have it, ask for it.” That’s pretty amazing, if you think about it. God wants to give us wisdom so much, that he’s just waiting for us to ask.


In fact, James says that God not only gives wisdom, but He gives it generously. That means God gives it. A lot of it. And he does so without belittling you for not having enough wisdom already. That’s cool.


He’s not like those people in your life who, when you ask for something, wonder out loud why you don’t already have it, or haven’t already sought it. God isn’t like that. He wants you to ask for wisdom, and when you do, He gives it in abundance.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: We do lack wisdom, so we should ask God for it.


Here’s a set of Verses to meditate on today: 1 Kings 3


Prayer: Father, thank you that I can come to you for things I don’t have. Please give me wisdom that I might walk in Your ways and lead Your people in righteousness and justice. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 35: James 1:2-3

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”



The crap will hit the fan. It’s inevitable. Nobody leads such a charmed life that they never face any troubles. Sadly, some people think that because they are a Christian, they will never have to go through hard times. They believe that because they are obeying God, going to church, tithing, and all that Christian stuff, that God owes them an easy life. Boy, are they wrong.


God didn’t spare His Son, and He didn’t spare any of the prophets, or even the apostles, from some pretty stormy seas, even death in terrible unusual ways. If God didn’t spare them, why would He spare you?


In fact, James tells us to treat troubles differently. He says “find joy in trials.” Now, that’s easier said than done. Why would we take joy in trials?


First of all, lets come at this from a biblical viewpoint. At the time that James wrote this to his congregations, they had faced and were facing massive persecution at the hands of Judaism. The dispersion of Christ-followers that followed the martyrdom of Stephen led people into strange new areas, new cities, and new jobs. This created all sorts of problems as unemployed Christians came racing into new towns to escape persecution. Unfortunately, persecution followed or started up afresh in these new towns.


James is telling his congregants to take heart in their troubles because it is teaching them something: perseverance. Our human nature is to give up at the first sign of trouble. We don’t like trouble, we don’t like to be in trouble. We would rather crawl under a rock and hide. James says that this trouble is teaching you how to stand under fire while God sees you through it.


As we look at this from our perspective, we see some similarities. As we take a stand for our faith in this world, or strive to work for Christ in this world, we are going to face troubles. Sometimes they come from outside sources, and sometimes they come from our friends and families. The overriding factor here is that we are to find joy in these circumstances because we are being taught and trained how to stand in the face of the enemy and not waver. And it isn’t just anyone teaching the lesson, it’s God.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: When we find ourselves in a rough spot, in trouble because of our faith, or under fire while working for God, take heart; God is using these circumstances to strengthen you and help you to stand.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Philippians 4:10-13


Prayer: Father, help me to stand in the face of opposition. Give me courage, and teach me to persevere. Give me joy in the face of my enemies. In Christ’s name, amen.