I Love You

DEVOTION
JAMES
I LOVE YOU
James 5:13
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
NIV
I am not sure if I have ever been in a situation I would consider trouble or better translated as undergoing hardship. I suppose to in a certain sense when I was lying in the hospital with one foot already in eternity I felt a degree of hardship thinking about my wife having to be alone. But I actually cannot remember a time I would consider my life as undergoing hardship, at least since I have been saved. I had more than share of hardships before that, but I was not inclined to believe pray would do any good as I did not believe in God. I wonder if some time in the future I might have to undergoing some form of hardship. I would most certainly call upon the name of the Lord in that case. I call upon his name every day, every moment of my day. I believe prayer is a consist state of communication with the Lord, always in his presence, always aware of his voice, his direction, his instruction, his word, his correction and his divine influence upon my heart. I cannot understand the need to hide away in some secret place, or setting aside a specific time to pray. As for the second portion of exhortation about being happy or merry or to be joyful, to be of good cheer, of good courage, I believe I am. I sing the praises of my Lord wherever I am and with whoever I am with, especially those friends I have who yet have accepted Jesus. I love to sing praise to me Lord, I love lifting my voice in praise of God. I think it is interesting the actual word used here means to cause to vibrate. I think that includes more than singing songs. I think that includes speaking praises of God. Sharing the love of Christ with my voice, with my words as well as in psalms is all a part of voicing praise. Where would I been if it were not for my Lord? I cannot even fathom. How could I live if it were not for my Lord? I cannot imagine. I am not just joyful; I am overjoyed with his work in for me, in me and through me. I am not just of good cheer, but I am extremely cheerful because of all he has done for me, in me and through me. I am not just of good courage, but am filled to the brim with courage, looking toward what he is still doing for me, in me and through me. I love you Lord!