“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

James 1:17-18

The book of James emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus on God who is the source of all the blessings that sustain and enrich our lives. This mindset is particularly important when we go through trials. It empowers us to persevere, and perseverance enables us to grow spiritually. Unlike those who allow doubt to drive their response we do not need to be “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” James 1:6. In Christ we have received a perfect revelation of God’s heart and are firmly planted on a foundation that cannot be shaken. The discipline of giving helps to maintain our focus on God’s perfect gift.