Today, in our Bible study in James 4, we're focusing on the JOY of godly sorrow. Sometimes, we need to allow God to show us hidden areas of sin or strongholds or selfishness that are keeping us from the closeness with the Lord that He desires.

Our HAPPY HABITS focus on the JOY of abiding close to Jesus.

We can't stop our sin on our own, but we don't have to; God wants us to draw near to Him and He will give us all the strength and help we need to repent and turn from sin, and to draw close to Jesus.

James 4

• Verses 1-5 -- many sins mentioned: lust, murder (hate), selfish desire, coveting, adultery, longing for friendship with the world.
• Key: verse 5: "The Spirit who dwels in us yearns jealously."
• Verse 6 -- God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Verse 7 -- Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.
• Verse 8 -- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... CLEANSE YOUR HANDS!!!
• Verse 9, 20 -- Lament, mourn, weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, your joy to gloom. HUMBLE YOURSELVES BEFORE GOD...
• Verse 11, 17 -- be a doer (to him who knows to DO good and does not do it, to him it is sin).

Focus on the Sovereignty of God --

• He is the judge and the Law giver. God sets the rules.
• He gives us grace and help to obey.

"You never know what a day holds"

• Verse 14 -- your life is a vapor. You do not know what a day holds. BUT GOD KNOWS.
• Verse 15 -- Say, If the Lord wills, we will go and do this and that...

Key verses, along with James 4 include:

• Psalm 16:11 -- In your presence is fullness of Joy...
• Psalm 126:5 -- Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy...
• Matthew 5:8 -- Happy are the people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
• Luke 15:7 -- ...More JOY in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.
• Psalm 51:12 -- Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
• Acts 3:12 -- "Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of repentance may come from the Lord.."
• We also discuss the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus. When Jesus warned him at the Last Supper, Peter truly believed that his heart was fully surrendered to God (John 13:37-38), but Jesus knew Peter's heart and Jesus knew the tempation and fall that were coming (denial #1 to a servant girl -- John 18:17, denial #2 -- John 18:25, denial #3 -- John 18:27, also see Matthew 26:69-75, about Peter swearing and weeping bitterly, and Mark 14:66-72 -- and "as he, Peter thought about it, and also recalled what Jesus has said, he wept bitterly). Jesus warned Peter, and also He helped Peter to repent, and even helped Peter to recover after the Resurrection (even talking by a smokey fire, as we read in John 21:25-19, which reminded Peter of the memory of his 3 denials) -- until at last Peter could step back into his purpose and calling to feed God's sheep.