Pressure Cooker!

2 Samuel 22:³³ “God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect.”

We will pick up from where we left off yesterday and that is in James 1:^2-4 “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (MSG). God is saying, ‘let tests, challenges, and pressure do their work in you so that you can become mature and well-developed. You are not yet mature. You are not yet fully developed. You just thought you were. And the purpose of all this is so that you will not be deficient in any way. In other words, you are deficient in many ways.

So, what has this got to do with making a way? Simple, God is saying that when you stay in ‘the pressure’, He will make a way in you – a way of patience, perseverance, joy, and maturity. And this begins to make sense when you look at Psalm 16:¹¹ “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (KJV). The Living Bible translation of James 1:^2-4 “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” (emphasis added).

Tai Solarin was known for saying “May your way be rough.” If this was a prayer, not many people will say ‘Amen’ because we do not want that kind of way. But God is saying He needs to make that kind of way in you so that the way of joy, maturity, and patience can be formed when your way is rough. “…For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” I pray that you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full, and complete in the Name of Jesus.

God wants to make a way into the Promised Land for you. God wants to make a way in you. God wants to make a way out for you. A way out of what? God wants to make a way out of chains and prison. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, everyone in chains even right now, we command the chains to be broken. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, everyone imprisoned, we speak to the prison doors to be opened in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for making a way into the Promised Land, for making a way in me, and for making a way out for me. My life is for Your glory, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!