James 1:21

Scripture: James 1:21
21 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.
 
Observations:
Evil is so prevalent! We'd like to think that we are getting worse and worse as the generations go by, but evil has always been SO prevalent. We are called as Christians to recognize moral filth and have nothing to do with it. I wish we could literally put our moral filth in a box and throw it away. I wish it was that simple. It's a continuous process for me to go through and pray about various aspects of my life, and ask God what He needs me to get rid of.  It does take humility and our submission of our lives to God to accept the word. It's so easy to let our pride say "well that's not really any harm! it's just a little bit, and I can manage it" and ignore God's calling to get rid of it.
 
Application:
Looking into my heart and into my daily habits, searching for what it is that God is calling me to get rid of. Are my eyes open to the evil around me and actively rejecting it, or am I accepting of it? Is evil normal to me? Am I humbly accepting the word, or am I dragging my feet and dreading the word?
 
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for planting the word in us and giving us salvation. Speak to us and let us know how to better rid ourselves of moral filth and be protected from evil. Help us to recognize those areas so we can better serve you. In Christ's name I pray, amen.

James 1:16-17

Scripture: James 1:16-17
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
 
Observations:
The world and our evil desires are so deceiving. Satan tells us that certain things are pleasant and good, when in reality they are death to us. Sin slowly creeps in and we find ourselves deceived by materialism, pop culture, and even music. Verse 17 reminds me that all that is good and perfect is from God. If it's not from Him, then it's not good or perfect.

Application:

I thought about my hobbies and my free time, and asked myself if certain things were "good and perfect." Is this something God wants me to be doing? Also praising the Father for being so faithful and unchanging.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for giving us so many blessings. I pray You forgive us when we are deceived by the empty lifestyle of the world. Remind us to pursue and delight in what is good. We love You and praise You. In Christ's name, amen!

James 1:15

Scripture: James 1:15
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
 
Observations:
Desire eventually leads to death. I jokingly concluded that desire is death's grandmother. What I got from this verse was that there are levels of falling away from the Lord, where sin grows and worsens. We should be careful to stop desire before it yields to more and more sin.
 
Application:
Small compromises lead to big failures. What kind of compromises have you made today or this week? What can you do to prevent these compromises from becoming big failures? Where I am, I have to fight laziness. There is so much to do lately! I know my desire is to put things off or just relax. There's nothing wrong per se with relaxing, but at the right place, at the right time!
 
Prayer:
Lord, open our eyes to those evil desires within us. Help us to recognize them so we don't get dragged away! Bless us with wisdom, discernment, and strength. In Christ's name I pray, amen.

James 1:13-14

Scripture: James 1:13-14
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
 
Observations:
Reading this verse, it almost seems so obvious: God doesn't tempt anybody. Well of course not! But people tend to push the blame for their evil desires on others and even God. I also thought back to Genesis, how the conversation went after Eve ate the apple. It was such a blame-game! Adam blamed Eve for giving the apple to him, and Eve blamed the snake. Nobody said "My fault! I knew better and shouldn't have done that!" which is the whole point. It's easier to pretend we're ignorant sheep than to admit we have our own evil desires.
 
Application:
What are your current temptations? What are we tempted to do that we know is evil but are playing dumb about? During the busy times for me, I am tempted to be lazy. Laying down horizontally while I could be organizing/cleaning/running/being productive. I think "enticed" is a perfect word haha it's like my bed is saying "Heleeeenaaaaaa you're sooo tiiiired!" haha when I know I had good rest, and there's more I should be doing. God isn't tempting me. My bed isn't tempting me. My own evil desire to be lazy and squander time is what's enticing. I have to turn on upbeat music, not put on pjs, and be intentional with my time.
 
Prayer:
Lord forgive us for caving into our evil desires, whatever they are, and knowing better. Help us to have the discernment between a temptation and a trial. Give us wisdom to walk away from temptation, and courage to walk through trials in Your strength. Forgive us also for blaming others and You when we stumble on our own sin. We love You and we long to obey You wholeheartedly. In Christ's name I pray, amen.