My church has started a study of the book of James.  Since I just finished Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore, I decided to start a commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe on James.  The whole first chapter of the study is based on James 1:1, who James was and why he wrote the book.  Wiersbe outlines 5 essentials to become spiritually mature.  They are:  1.) be born again, 2.) We must honestly examine our lives in light of God's Word, 3.) We must obey what God teaches us, no matter what the cost, 4.) We must be prepared for some extra trials and testings, and 5.) W must measure our spiritual growth by the Word of God.

At the end of each chapter are study/reflection questions.  Wiersbe asks, "Of these essentials (to become mature), which is the most difficult?  I think the most difficult for me is a a toss up between number 4 and number 5.  I don't want to be prepared for trials and tests because I don't want to have them.  If I apply it to my weight loss pit/journey that the Lord is delivering me from, I have to DAILY and sometimes minute by minute ask the Lord to help me prepare myself because sometimes chocolate seems like the answer when it's really the Lord who fills the hungry soul.  I love this quote by Wiersbe:  "When that time arrives (trials), you will be on the verge of a new and wonderful blessing in your life, a thrilling new step of maturity.  Even if Satan does turn on the heat, your Father in heaven keeps His almighty hand on the thermostat!"  That is a such a good thing to keep in mind when I want to run from trials or give in to them.

The next one I find most difficult would be measuring my spiritual growth by the Word of God because I tend to want to measure my spiritual growth by MY standards OR by comparing myself to others who I deem more mature than myself- the questions often arise in my head- 1.) Why can't I pray like that?  2.) How do they know just what Scripture to turn to right away?  3.) Why can't I have visions like that?  After I ask myself those questions, I turn to the thought of "Man, I need to spend more time with the Lord," instead of using the Word of God as my mirror and measuring tape.  Not only do I do this spiritually, I do it physically.  I compare my body to other women's bodies and think, "Why can't I be that in shape or that small?  I need to spend more time at the gym and eat less," instead of looking at the progress the Lord has made with me!

I love when the Lord is hammering something so deep within you that everything ties into the other thing and so on.  Well it's time to go get a butt kicking by Jillian Michaels....