This post is Day 21 in a series of studies about “James”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

James – Day 21

As one who is learning very slowly to let the Lord make plans for me, I can tell you that life is much more exciting than it was when I made my own plans. His plans are bigger, better, and a hundred percent more sure of being accomplished than ours.

James 4:13-15

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.”

The Thought

At first glance this verse can be depressing. Especially if we start with the middle part first. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. It sounds as though we mean nothing to our Creator. That is not true. We must never forget that God loves us, He has done since our conception, and He always will love us. So any thoughts He has for us or about us are for our good. If we read on, then we see how we can actually get the best out of life; By seeking His will first and not wasting too much time going our own way.

James’s words here remind me of Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. If we realised early on just how fragile life is, we would probably submit many more of our ideas to the Lord.

As one who is learning very slowly to let the Lord make the plans for me, I can tell you that life is much more exciting than it used to be when I made my own plans. His plans are bigger, better, and a hundred percent more sure of being accomplished than ours are.

Action

Ask Him today to fulfill His plans in your life. and those of your family and your church.

Praise God that He equips us to do our part in what He has designed for the earth.