The Prayer Filled Life – Day 68 – James 4:13-17 – Now Listen – 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)
Your Plans
What are your plans? That sounds like a trick question to me. It might be, why do you think so? You want me to discuss my plans with you. If I have made elaborate plans without discussing them with you, that is not good. That is a huge problem. Why is that? You want me to know and do your will. You want me to be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You want me to store up treasure in heaven with you. Plans that don’t have you in them will amount to nothing of lasting and eternal value. Plans to pursue all that this world has to offer will surely result in a wasted and misspent life. I don’t want to waste and misspend my life. One day I want to hear you say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Nothing will give me more pleasure and joy than knowing that I have gone and done your will. I will have no greater happiness than knowing that I have lived a life that was pleasing to you. That is very good.
So, better questions, that are not a trick questions, would be my asking, “What are your plans for me?” How can I go and do your will today? How can I bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? How can I store up treasure in heaven with you now? Those questions are in my heart and on my mind. Why is that true? Why are you asking such good questions of me? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you with all that is within me. There is nothing I would rather do than go and do what is pleasing to you. I see, how did you come to love me so deeply? I love you because you first loved me. You rescued me from a life without you. You saved my soul. You forgave my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. You gave me a new life to live. That life is with you. You made it so I could love you with all that is within me. Now, I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship as I go and do your will. That is very good and so you shall. One day I will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Thank you, Lord.
Lord, many times I have relied on myself. I have made my own plans. I have gone my own way. I have suffered disastrous results by making dumb decisions. No more! I will rely on you by listening to your voice. Help me to be fruitful for your kingdom and glory. Amen
Key Question… When are you setting aside time to stop and listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will?
Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so you will be able to know and do His will, bearing fruit for His Kingdom and glory.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will when you listen attentively to Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are continually seeking to know and do the Lord’s will.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the voice of the Lord so you can know and do His will.
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