The Exchange

December 26, 2016

Written By

Deborah Negron

The exchange is one that seems illogical to the human mind. Why, who would transfer hope and take despair away…

Who would transfer Mercy for Sin…

Who would transfer Grace for a deserved Condemnation.

James 5
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

The afflictions of the poor
The weariness of the heart
The poverty if the soul all find their rest and peace and provision in you, Oh Lord.
The Lord is the one who establishes us.
He is the one able to cause us to to stand in the midst of life’s storms.
He makes a transfer and yes, an exchange…
He gives us beauty for ashes.
Strength for weakness.
He gives us joy for sorrow
and He avenges his own from their enemies.
He is able to make paths in the barren places.
He is water to the thirsty soul,
Bread to the hungry and
Hope for the hopeless.

Lord today, I thank you for your faithfulness.
Amidst the busy-ness of my day let my mind remember your goodness. Let me focus on your word. The prayers of the righteous avail much. Let me trust in you In the present and believe in you for the future.
For the past I know well. And in it I have seen your grace and your mercy continually.