No Talking – Test In Progress

I have yet to meet anyone who thoroughly enjoys taking a test. I am sure we can all remember the anxiety and stress induced acne that would appear before an exam, the anticipation of finding out our marks and class ranking, and even the disappointment when we did not achieve an expectation we had for ourselves.

Though the days of all night study sessions, and the sensation of sweaty palms attempting to grip a number two pencil, are in the past for most of us, taking tests are still very much a part of our daily lives.

James 1:12, God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Through the process of our sanctification, there are several tests that God will put us through in order to transform our spirit. And, in my experience, God has used- and continues to use- three specific tests to test the financial health of my marriage:

The Integrity Test- Our integrity is the measure of our personal ethics and moral principles. It is the quality of being honest on a consistent basis in our lives. Think of a test of integrity as an alignment of our moral compass. When we are being tempted to fill a desire or need within our soul, is our moral compass pointing in the direction of ourselves… or pointing at Christ?

The Submission Test– In the English language, submission is also known as deference which is a submission to someone who we recognize as a superior in our life. The act of submission is one that is done out of respect and reverence. We go through this test in order to help us recognize who holds the world in His hands. Everything we have belongs to God. Not just our finances and physical blessings, but our gifts and talents as well. But if we are honest with ourselves, we would own up to the truth that in our humanity we must be reminded of this truth. Often.

The Faithfulness Test– Are we being faithful with all that God has given us? Recently I had a conversation with friends who shared that they having been asking The Lord to increase them so that they could provide fresh water to third world communities in need. We spoke of the test of faithfulness: if The Lord is going to provide us increase for a promise we have made, we better make sure we are faithful to fulfill our promise.

The testing The Lord will put us through is not meant to cause us anxiety, stress, or even disappointment. The Lord tests us in order to create within us a greater character that is able to withstand the storms of life. Just like I have have yet to meet an individual who enjoys taking a test, I also have yet to meet an individual who is exempt from them. And just like no one of us is exempt from the trials of transformation, no one who is pressing into Jesus is exempt from the tests of transformation either. And it would benefit us greatly to remember that the teacher never speaks when a test is being given.

Father, as you are testing us in order to make us holy and set apart for your good works, help us to withstand the storms of life… sweaty palms and all. In Jesus name, Amen.

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