Tag Archives: If it is the Lord’s will

If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - James 4:13-17 - If It Is The Lord's Will We Will Live And Do This Or That - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 4:13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 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)

 Ask The Question

You are a planner. You like to think and dream big. You like to think about all the possibilities of life. You see things and wonder how they could be changed and made better. You’re always wondering what you could do differently. It’s hard for you to sit still. You like to be on the move. You want your life to count for something. You want your life to have made a difference in this world. Yes Lord, you are describing me quite well. That shouldn’t be too hard for me because I made you. I enjoy seeing all these qualities at work in your life. You are who I have made you to be. But there is something more that you want to talk to me about, isn’t there? Yes, there is.

What do you want to say to me? There is a question that I always want you to have front and center in your heart and mind. It is a great question that I want you to ask me at the start, in the middle, and at the end of your thought process when you are planning to do something. If you don’t ask me this question, your plans will not succeed. Ask me, “is this your will?” You will need to know my answer before you proceed. You have a lot of energy and you can become very enthusiastic and excited about a plan or project you are working on. Your natural energy and excitement might carry you off in the wrong direction to attempt to do what is not my will for you. You may have the right plan or project but the wrong timing. I want you to really involve me in your thinking and planning. Don’t come up with your great plan and ask me to bless it at the very end. I want to bless the work of your hands by guiding you to do what I have always planned for you to do for me. I do have a purpose and plan for your life. Ask me what that plan and purpose is. Do you think that I will hide my purposes and plans from you? No, there is no chance of that. If you don’t know my purposes and plans, what do you think the problem might be? I think that I probably haven’t asked you and then waited for your answer. Yes, I want you to keep asking me to reveal my purposes and plans for you. What will you do as you continue to ask me? I will continue to serve you where I am and wait until I have an answer from you. Yes, asking and waiting is exactly what I want you to do. I will show you when, where, and how to act. Then you will bear an abundance of fruit for me.

Lord, I have raced off in a thousand different directions all based on my thoughts and plans. I have made so many mistakes. No more. Help me to rely on your for your wisdom. I want you to guide my life according to your will. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - James 4-13-15 - If It Is The Lord's Will We Will Live And Do This Or That - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – James 4-13-15 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 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.” James 4:13-15  (NIV)

 Ask Of Me

Do you have big plans? What makes you think that you have time to accomplish them all? There is something a little strange about the roadmap that you have laid out for yourself. What’s that? I don’t recall you inviting me in on your little planning process. You have a good point there. Why did you do that? Well, I wasn’t getting a roadmap from you, so I decided to forge ahead on my own. Without me? Now that you put it that way, my action does seem really misguided. You got that right. Your efforts are not only going to be misguided by you, but unguided by me. Don’t you want me to guide and direct your life? Yes Lord, I do. But, you’re impatient. It’s hard for you to wait for instructions and ask for help, isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Haven’t you done this before? What? Forged ahead without me, with your own roadmap and plans? I guess that I have. Is that really a guess? No, I know that I have ventured out ahead of you with my own plan. How has that worked out for you? Not so well. What’s happened? Any number of undesirable outcomes have occurred. Like what? I’ve gone the wrong direction, had to turn around and retrace my steps, for one thing. That sounds like a big waste of time. It is. But you like that better than waiting for my instructions? At least I feel like I am doing something. You know what they say about feelings, don’t you? What’s that? You can’t rely on them.

Anyhow, you felt like you were doing something? Yes, I did. Why did you turn around? I realized that I had made a mistake. How was that? I may have thought that I was doing something but I knew for sure that you were not. I could tell that you were not in the plan I was pursuing. How could you tell that? I really had no power or ability to accomplish what I was attempting to do. It was just a lot of tiresome self-effort on my part. That sounds very exhausting. It was, that’s for sure. What have you learned by forging ahead without me? I’ve learned that it is better to wait for instructions from you so that I will be able to move forward with your plan and rely on your power to accomplish it. You’ve learned a very important lesson, don’t you think? Yes, I have and for that I am very thankful.

It seems to me that there is one missing element we have not considered. What’s that? Well, so far we’ve talked about plans and power. You’ve learned that you want my plan and power rather than your own. Yes that’s correct. We have not talked about purpose. What is the purpose of your plans? Will the purpose of your plans standup in light of eternity? What do you mean by that? Let’s say it’s 10,000 years from now and you’re looking back from eternity, will you be pleased with the purpose of your plans? Probably not. Why is that? The purpose of my plan was too centered around me and what I wanted in that moment of my life. I will have wished that I had asked you to show me your purposes and plans so that I could accomplish them with your power. There is no need to wish. Why is that? You can come and ask that of me right now.

Lord, I’m sorry that I have made big plans without consulting you. I don’t want my plans in life. I want your purposes and plans to be accomplished through my life, by your power, for your kingdom and glory.  Thank you that I can serve you.   Amen  

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Guidance – James 4-13-15 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use.  All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.  

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                                    Copying not permitted                                                                        www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will

Posted on by
Reply
The Virtuous Life - Day 202 - James 4:13-16 - You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4:13-16 – You Ought To Say 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)

Listening

That seems to be the key. What seems to be the key to what? Listening, it seems to me, is the key to being able to know and do your will. Why do you think so? If I am unwilling to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I am too busy to listen to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I would rather listen to myself than to you, I will never know and do your will. Those are all correct statements. What will be required of you if you want to hear from me? If I want to hear from you, I will need to humbly, and attentively, listen to you. I will need to set aside my agenda. I will need to stop and make time so I am not too busy or distracted to hear from you. I must be willing to follow and obey you once I hear from you. It would do me no good if I were only a hearer of your word. I must be willing to go and do whatever you ask of me. Why would you bother to speak to me if you knew that I wouldn’t listen or follow or obey you? I suspect you would not, unless you really wanted to get my attention, so you could turn my life around. And I know that you have done that before in my life. That is true.

But I don’t want to be a reluctant listener. I don’t want to be a hesitant follower. I want to live my life in such a way that I am in sync with you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. I want to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, I will listen attentively to you. You are correct, that is the key, do that and you will be able to know and do my will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know I can dream up elaborate plans to keep me busy. I do not want to be busy. I want to be productive. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to know and do your will. Help me to listen attentively to you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making time to 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.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will as you listen to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been guiding your steps as you listen to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4-13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Now Listen

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 68 - James 4:13-17 - Now Listen - Growing As Disciples

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.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 68 – James 4-13-17 – Now Listen – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If It Is The Lord’s Will

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 24 - James 4:13-17 - If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

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

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 24 – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If It Is The Lord’s Will

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - James 4:13-15 - If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – James 4:13-15 – 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.” James 4:13-15 (NIV)

Listen

That is the key word isn’t it? What is the key word? Listen is the key word. You want me to listen to you. You want me to come to rely on you. You want me to seek your counsel. You me want to follow your guidance. You want me to be able to know and do your will. What do you want? I want what you want. I want to listen to your counsel. I want to receive your guidance. I want to come to rely on you. I want to be able to know and do your will. That is very good.

What will you do differently because you want to listen to my counsel and receive my guidance? What changes will you make because you want to know and do my will? In the past I sought my own counsel and I made my own plans. I did what I thought was right in my own eyes. What is wrong with doing that? My own wisdom is very limited. I lack understanding. Under my own counsel I have not been able to know and do your will. Why is that? I can’t know and do your will if I don’t seek your counsel or follow your guidance. No, you cannot. But, that is all going to change, right now. How so? I am going to earnestly seek your counsel and passionately follow your guidance. I am going to come to rely fully on you. That will be very good.

How will you come to rely on me? I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in worship. I will meet with you in your word. I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. I will make myself attentive to you. I will listen to your voice. I will ask you to guide my life. I will ask you to help me to know and do your will. I will ask you to give me the strength to go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. In every way, I will come to rely on you instead of relying on myself. In every way, I will listen to you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have sought my own counsel and made my own plans. I have done what I thought was right in my own eyes. This is no way to live. Instead, I will seek your direction. I will ask you to guide my plans. I will go where you send me to do what you ask of me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Prayer – James 4-13-15 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If It Is The Lord’s Will

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - James 4:13-17 - If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

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

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Life – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Say – Do

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - James 4:15-17 - Say - Do - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – James 4:15-17 – Say – Do – Growing As Disciples

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 4:15-17 (NIV)

Your Will 

What can I say? I have made so many mistakes. I have made elaborate plans without talking to you about them. I have said and done what I wanted to do. I have not consulted with you. I have not allowed you to be the center of my plans. I have wanted to tell you what I have wanted to do. Instead of coming to you talking, I should have come to you listening. Instead of desiring to fulfill my plans, my desire should have been to seek to know and do your will. Instead of asking you to join me in my plans, I should have asked you if I could join you in your plans. I have had my planning process backwards. How so? I went where I should not have gone. I did what did not need to be done. My best laid plans have resulted in fruitless and miserable failures. So, I have wasted a lot of time. Now, I have had enough. What do you mean by that? I will no longer pursue my own plans to accomplish my own purposes. That’s good. 

What will you do differently? How will you seek to know and do my will? How will pursue my purposes and plans? I will come to you. I will ask for your wisdom. I will seek your counsel. I will ask for your guidance. I will wait for your instructions. I will not run off in my own direction. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. In every way, I will submit myself to you. All that I am, all that I have, and all that I hope to be is yours. I want you to use me as your instrument. I want to be a tool in your hand. I will allow you to train me. I will wait for your timing. I will watch and pray. I will listen to your voice. I will be attentive to your call. I will join you in whatever you invite me to do with you. I will move when you tell me to move. Every opportunity that comes before me will be subjected to one question. What is that question? I will ask you if this is your will. That will be very good.  

Lord, I ask forgiveness for when I have made elaborate plans without asking you about them. I now want you to be the center of all my plans. I want to be able to say and do your will. I want to accomplish the purposes and plans you have in mind for my life. Amen 

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Rhythms – James 4-15-17 – Say – Do – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

If It Is The Lord’s Will

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - James 4:13-17- It It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – James 4:13-17- It 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. James 4:13-16 (NIV)

Making Plans

What’s your plan? What would you like to do with your life? What would you like your life to accomplish in the short time that you have to live it? When you look back over your life what would have to happen for you to know that your life was well spent? I’m wondering if those are good or trick questions. Why would you say that? There is no guarantee that my plan is your plan. There is the very real possibility that what I might like to do might lead me to misspend my life. What I might want to accomplish might be quite different from what you want to do in and through my life. I’m not sure if I have all the knowledge and wisdom that I would need to decide how to spend my life. Are you saying that you can’t answer these questions? I could answer them. I’m not sure that I can answer them correctly. In fact I have had a history of answering them incorrectly. What do you mean by that? I have made plenty of plans that did not have you in them. I have made plans based on pleasure. I have made plans based on power. I have made plans based on prestige. All of these plans have not ended well. All of these plans have left me unsatisfied, unhappy and unfulfilled. I have known that I have been doing the wrong things for all the wrong reasons.

What do you want? I want to ask you some questions. Go ahead I’m listening. What’s your plan? What do you want to do with my life? What do you want to accomplish in my life in the short time that I have to live it? When we look back over my life together what would have to happen for us to know that my life was well spent? You have turned the table on me. That’s right. Why have you done that? What are you saying to me? I want to know you. I want to know and do your will. I have no interest in making plans without you. I have done enough of that already. I have wasted time and energy and resources doing what wasn’t in your plans for me to do. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to accomplish the work that you have given me to do for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. That is the only way that I will ever know that my life was well spent. So, I’m asking you to use my life for your purposes and according to your plan. That is what I want. That is what you want. That is what we want. Yes, it is.

Lord, I have made plans without seeking to know your will. I have chased after priorities other than knowing you and doing your will. How foolish have I been? Help me now to know you and do your will. Use my life for your purposes and according to your plans. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Knowing God – James 4-13-16 – Making Plans – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com