Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – James 4:13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – Growing As Disciples
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)
My Plans
That’s quite a plan you have there, did you come up with that all on your own? Yes, I did. This plan is all original and all mine. I didn’t ask anyone for help. No one gave me any advice. From start to finish this is my very own plan. No one will be able to share in the brilliance of this little plan of mine. I shouldn’t use the word little. Why is that? This plan is huge, don’t you think? Yes, I can see that you have tried to think of everything. Obviously, you didn’t want to leave any detail uncovered. That’s for sure. It’s too bad really. You went to all this time and effort. You have worked so long and so hard to implement your plan. What’s too bad? It sounds like you think that I might have wasted my time. You did leave out one very important detail in all your planning and in all your work. What’s that? What detail have I missed? You have left me out of your plans and all your work. You didn’t ask me what I thought. You didn’t seek my counsel and guidance. You just ran off in this direction on your own all by yourself. You don’t like my plan? Isn’t this plan according to your purposes and plans for my life? Isn’t this something that you want me to do? Couldn’t I serve you in this way? I’m asking all these questions of you now. Isn’t now a little too late? If what I am doing is not your plan then I have wasted my time. I have done my own thing. These huge plans of mine might result in a huge failure. Yes, they might. They might also teach you a very valuable lesson.
What could I learn from such a huge mistake and colossal failure? You tell me. I have been following my own counsel and pursuing my own plans. Yes, that’s true. Apart from you I can do nothing. Nothing? I can do nothing that will stand the test of time and last for all eternity. Only you can do that kind of work in and through my life. Yes, that’s right. I want my life to count for something. I want you to use my life for your kingdom and your glory. I want to know your will and do your will. Then what must you do? Then I must ask you to show me your will. Then I must ask you to help me to do your will. That’s right. What must you not do? I must not run off in thousand different directions following my own counsel and pursing my own plans. You’ve got that right. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, I have run off in a thousand different directions based on my ill-conceived plans. I thought I had good ideas and great plans. I was foolish. No idea is good or plan great that doesn’t consult you. I want to know and do your will. Amen
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Life – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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