Devotional Day 5: “Bringing Back the Wanderers” “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back…” James 5:19 Like football player Roy Riegals, I’ve gone the wrong way before. Shame wanted to bench me, but grace put me back in the game! If you’ve…
Humble submission involves actively acknowledging God’s sovereignty in our decision-making. As we make plans, it’s essential to bring them before the Lord, recognizing that His will may differ from ours. This submission leads to a profound trust that even when our plans falter, God’s purpose prevails. Reflection Questions:
Trusting God with the unknown requires acknowledging that His plans supersede ours. Even when our best-laid plans fall apart, God is working all things together for our good. This trust allows us to find peace in the midst of uncertainties, knowing that His love and purpose prevail. Reflection Questions:
In James 4:15, we are encouraged to introduce humility into our plans by saying, “If the Lord wills.” This small phrase has significant implications, reminding us that God is the ultimate determiner of our paths. Embracing the “if the Lord wills” mindset shifts our focus from self-reliance to humble dependence…
James compares our lives to a mist, fleeting and transient. This analogy challenges our tendency to boast in our achievements, reminding us of our limited time on earth. As you reflect on the brevity of life, consider how you can live with a deeper sense of purpose and reliance on…
In the pursuit of our ambitions and aspirations, it’s easy to forget the fragility of our plans. The story of Colman Mockler serves as a stark reminder that despite meticulous planning and apparent success, life can take unexpected turns. James urges us to recognize the inherent uncertainty in our lives…
If we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. But if we humble ourselves before God and one another, it is God who will exalt us. That is exactly the opposite of what the world says. The world says exalt yourself and you will be exalted. But the truth is that…
How does we draw near to God? By humbling ourselves, acknowledging our dependence upon him, and acknowledging our sinful pride that separates us from him. One of the chief ways we draw near to God is through prayer. It does not have to be a long prayer. To pray thoughtfully…
The solution to our prideful arrogance and insistence on our own way is to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7). Submission entails showing the appropriate respect, honor, and obedience that is due to God. It is to repudiate our egotism, our aloofness, our insistence on our own way in order…
In the midst of the cesspool of our selfish desires causing all sorts of conflicts among us, James reminds us that God “gives more grace.” God gives this grace so that we would overcome the malevolent envy that causes quarrels and fights among us. Alec Moyer writes: “…God is tirelessly…