Develop Your Character.

01/04/25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:3, NLT

Develop Your Character.
Too often we put conditions on God and on our prayers. “God, I’ll be happy if my boss moves to the backside of Mars. When you get him out of my life, I’ll have a good attitude.” Have you ever thought that God is using that person to grow you up, to develop your character, to teach you to love those who are not so lovable? Instead of saying, “God, get me out of this situation,” I’m asking you to pray, “God, come into this situation. Help me to have a good attitude. Help me to do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening.” It’s very powerful when you can say, “God, if this person or situation never changes, thank You that You’ve given me the strength to overcome, the power to be happy in the midst of difficulties. I’m not going to let this person, this sickness, or this injustice to take my joy.” Now you’re growing and coming up higher. Sometimes God is waiting for you to pass the test, in then He’s going to bring you out.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are worthy of my unconditional trust. There are things in my life that I don’t understand, situations I want to see changed, people who I’d like to get away from, but even if they never happen, I’m still going to trust You. I gladly leave these matters in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

It is wonderful to know that God does not measure and judge you based on your performance today. Instead, He looks at Jesus, and as Jesus is, that is how He sees you. His Word declares that “love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

As new covenant believers, we do not have to fear the day of judgment simply because all our sins have been completely judged at the cross, and as Jesus is, so are we! Notice that it does not say that “as Jesus was on earth, so are we in this world.” That would have been amazing enough because during Jesus’ ministry on earth, healing, blessings, and abundance followed Him everywhere He went.

Yet, that is not what the Word says. What it says is, “as Jesus is” (notice the use of the present tense). In other words, as He is right now, so are we in this world.

What a powerful revelation! Just consider where Jesus is today. The Bible tells us:

He [God] raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.—Ephesians 1:20–23

Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand today, in a position of power and authority. If I were you, I would take some time to meditate on this passage because the Bible tells us that as Jesus is, so are we right now, in this world.

Meditate on how as Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,” so are we! See it in God’s Word for yourself. See yourself as Jesus is, far above every principality and power, far above every disease and physical condition, far above every kind of fear, depression, and addiction, and begin to reign over every negative situation in your life today!