Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 24 – 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)
Your Will
That is what I want to know and do. What do you want to know and do? I want to know and do your will. Is this some new desire? Is this a big change? Is this a different game plan? Yes, it is all of the above. Why is that? I can’t tell you how many times I have made plans without consulting you. No need, I already know. Yes, I know that you know. You know everything about me. You know my thoughts before I think them, words before I speak them and actions before I take them. But I am clearing the air. I am confessing my sin. What sin are you confessing? I know that it is a sin to make plans without consulting you. I know that plans that don’t include you will amount to nothing of lasting and eternal value. I know that I will waste time and energy and resources making my own plans to do my own thing. Such efforts will cause me to walk a crooked path bouncing from one fruitless endeavor to another. That is not your plan for me. That is not your desire for me. What is my plan and desire for you? You want me to be able to know and do your will. You want my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I want these things for you. Yes, this is my plan and desire for you. For that, I am grateful and thankful. That’s good.
How will you make it your priority to know and do my will? I will draw near to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. As I walk through life with you, I will continually have a question in my heart and on my mind. What will that question be? I will be continually asking, “Is this your will?” How will I respond to your question? I am sure that you will help me to know and do your will. How sure? I am absolutely sure that you will help me to know and do your will as I seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You will guide me. You will guard me. You will lead me. Yes, I will. I have no doubt about that. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, in the past I have frequently made plans without consulting you. These plans have amounted to nothing of lasting, eternal value. Forgive me. No longer will I make plans without consulting you. Help me to know and do your will, as I draw near to you. Amen
Key Question… When have you made the mistake of planning without seeking to know and do the Lord’s will?
Living It Out… Make it your daily goal to know and do the Lord’s will.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to know and do His will.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek to know and do the Lord’s will.
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