Find Joy In Today

Today I am joining the the #FiveMinuteFriday group of writers to write for five minutes on a one word prompt. Today’s word prompt is: Effort.

While looking at this week’s word, many different ideas went through my mind to write about. But then 2 Peter 1:5-7 caught my attention. It says:

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.“

So on top of our faith, He wants us to make every effort to add characteristics that help us grow and mature in our faith. He desires for us to embody love for other people and to exercise self-control in our interactions with them, no matter the circumstances. I must admit, at times this is very difficult to do, especially when emotions run high and our instincts push us toward defensiveness. I remember being in ministry and having to hold my tongue when someone was coming against my family. That took a lot of effort on my part. My flesh wanted to put them in their place, but God wanted me to love them, and to show grace in a situation that could easily have escalated into bitterness and hurt feelings.

Another characteristic God wants us to pursue is self-control. This too takes a lot of effort on our part, especially when we find ourselves wanting to do our own thing instead of spending time at the feet of Jesus. I’m really trying hard to start my mornings with prayer and Bible study instead of checking social media, writing or cleaning.

If we are to add all these things to faith, is it safe to say that this is what James 2:26 means when it says “Faith without works is dead?” After all, it takes a lot of work and effort to have self-control and to love those who have hurt you. It also takes a lot of work to persevere when our whole world seems to be falling apart.

As my five minutes is coming to an end, I will leave you with this: Make every effort to put God first in your life and to love one another. Read the above verse and work hard to be all that God created you to be.