Tag Archives: James 4:13-17

The Lord’s Will

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 52 - James 4:13-17 - The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 52 – James 4:13-17 – 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)  

If

That is a critical word. What is a critical word? “If”, is a critical word. How is, “if”, a critical word? You know the answer to that question. You have no need for me to explain anything to you. Yes, that is true. Nevertheless, I would like you to tell me how the word, “if”, is critically important to you. I want to do your will. I have no desire to do something that is not your will. I have plenty of experience going and doing what has not been your will. I don’t like to sit around. I don’t want to waste time. I have this desire to keep busy. It is hard for me to sit still. All of these factors have combined in a way that has not been helpful to me. How so? Far too often I have hastefully launched off on a misguided course of action. I have not stopped to ask “if” something was your will. I have not said to myself that I will do this only “if” it is your will. Instead, I have gone and done what seemed right to me. Sometimes, I have gone and done something simply because I would be able to earn money and acquire materials possessions. I have not taken the time necessary to receive your instruction or follow your guidance. That is not good. Yes, I know.

What would you like to do differently? I would like to come and sit still before you. I would like to live in an intimate relationship with you. I would like to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to come to know you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want you to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans for my life. Those are all very good desires. Do you believe that I will show you what is my will? Do you believe that I will guard and guide your life? Do you believe that I will work in and through you? Yes, I do, without a doubt. Then come and sit still before me. Listen carefully to me. Yes, I will. Then I will only do something “if” it is your will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I can’t tell you how many times I have foolishly followed my own guidance. I have pursued money and material possessions. I have wasted time and energy and resources. No more of that for me. Daily, I will seek your guidance. I will go and do your will. Amen

Key Question… When have you clearly discovered the fruitlessness of going and doing what was not God’s will?

Living It Out… Make it your pattern and practice to seek God’s guidance on a daily basis.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will guide the course of your life as you seek and follow His guidance.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking God’s guidance on a daily basis.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go and do what is the Lord’s will.

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

Day 52 – Becoming Like Christ – James 4-13-17 – The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

You Ought To Say

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 1 - James 4:13-17 - You Ought To Say - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 1 – James 4:13-17 – You Ought To Say – Growing As Disciples

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:13-17 (ESV)

I’m Listening

I have made so many mistakes. How so? I have raced through life. I have run from one thing to another. I have headed a thousand different directions. I have dabbled a little bit here and a little bit there. I have bounced from one priority to another. My life has lacked focus. I have lacked direction. I have misspent time. I have wasted resources. What has been the source of your lack of focus and misdirection? That is an easy answer. Really? I can’t wait to hear what you have to say. I have allowed myself to get caught up in the noise and busyness of life. My life has been a fast-paced blur and flurry of activity. My life has been a frantic attempt to go and do things that I thought would be of great value. How has that worked out for you? I have worn myself out. I have become weary. I have been unfruitful. That’s not good. No, it is not. Have you identified the only problem? No, I am not finished yet. Keep going, this is getting good. I have lived my life as a “know it all”. How so? I have thought that I could adequately guide and direct my own life. I have listened to my own counsel and followed my own advice. I have gone and done whatever seemed best to me. How has that worked out for you? I have learned that I need help. I am not wise. I am not all knowing. I don’t even know what the next day or even the next hour will bring. Do you want help? Are you willing to admit to me that you need help? Yes, I desperately need help. Yes, I want all the help you will give to me. I want to be fruitful in serving you. That is very good. What are you prepared to do so that you can hear from me and receive my guidance? I will slow down. I will stop. I will quiet myself before you. I will meet with you in your word. I will listen to all that you have say to me. When will you do this? I will set aside time every day to meet with you. That will be very good. What else will you do? I will put into practice whatever show me. I will go and do your will. How do you think this will work out for you? I will be able to know and do your will. You will lead me on a good path. I will be fruitful in serving you. Yes, you will. Thank you, Lord. Guide my life as I listen to you. You can rely on Me. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Here I am Lord. I have slowed down. I have withdrawn from the busyness of life. I have come to a complete stop. I have set aside this time to be with you. I want to hear from you. I want to walk through life with you. Help me to hear and follow your direction. Amen 

Key Question…  Why is it dangerous to live your life as a stubborn “know it all” who is unwilling to receive guidance?

Living It Out…  Make it your consistent daily practice to quiet yourself before the Lord so you can listen to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will guide your life as you slow down and stop to listen to Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you quiet yourself before the Lord so you can hear from Him.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 1 – James 4-13-17 – You Ought To Say – 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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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