(1 Have the right attitude: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2 Marvin Rosenthal wrote as one of the ten points to remember for the New Year: “Christians are continually confronted with great opportunities that are brilliantly disguised as insolvable problems.” Opportunities are disguised as problems.
We know that everything is possible with God: “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."” Matthew 19:26 Mark 9:23 10:27 14:26 Luke 18:27
We all will face trials. We can look upon them as challenges or with discouragement. We can know that problems work for our good: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Trials will cause us to develop perseverance and become mature and complete: “…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 1:3-4
We are destined to become like Jesus: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…” Romans 8:29
It is so important we have the right attutude that God has commanded us to guard our hearts: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
The best way to stop thinking sinful or negative thought is to make an effort to think positively. God has told us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
He told us not to worry: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 If He told us not to worry, there must be no need to worry. In fact, He told us not to worry: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Matthew 6:34
He has told the results of this kind of thinking: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
(2 Remember God will give us wisdom if we ask: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
Wisdom is most important and is ours for the asking: “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” Proverbs 4:7-8
(3 Consider how much God loves us: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
Nothing can separate us from the love of God: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39
(4 Remember that doubting is a hindrance to answered prayer: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:6-8
It is never too late to change from doubt to faith. We can ask for help:
‘So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" `If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He’s dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” Mark 9:20-27 The father asked Jesus to help his unbelief and Jesus healed the boy.
(5 Think about what God has done for us in the past. Remember when He has answered our prayers: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11
(6 Listen to the testimony of others regarding answered prayer. Associate with those of like faith a good share of your time: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
(7 Read the Word of God. Think about it, memorize it, consider how to apply it: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Memorize His promises to answer our prayers. One of my favorite passages is: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 If I know that what I am asking is God’s will. I have no doubt He will answer.
(8 Pray to get closer to God. Pray to find your joy in Him: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 The more you know God, the more faith you will have in trials. “,,,for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10