The Everyday Prayer

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17

We are planners. We love to forecast what life will be like tomorrow or ten years from now. I don’t think Pastor James is against considering tomorrow, or even planning the launch of a business venture. What he seems to be discouraging is the kind of planning that is foolishly done at the expense of the present. In fact, James teaches us, neglecting what needs to be done in the present, or the things we know we ought to be doing right now is sinful.

All the vision, goal setting, and strategic planning for tomorrow is pointless if we are not faithful to do what ought to be done today.

Jesus would have us live and love in the present, and entrust all our plans for tomorrow to the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:13-17 (day five) 

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?”

Which 2 books give accurate descriptions of our lives?  May I suggest planners (calendars) and diaries. One book (planner) is the accurate picture of how our time is spent, and used- activities, priorities, busyness, sabbath, business, family. Looking through its pages will shed light on how we have planned and managed our time.

The other book (our diaries) gives insight to the people, personalities, and relationships that matter most- questions, concerns, experiences, struggles, feelings, insights, lessons learned, prayers, and convictions. Pastor James is teaching these believers that both time and life is more about the Lord than anything else. That there is a healthy balance that recognizes God’s sovereignty, our finiteness, and the actions and attitudes we must possess.

The Lord who holds time in is hand is also writing the narrative of our story. He is in control!!

Re:Verse passage – James 4:13-17 (day four)

Pride assumes that we are in control of the directions and events of our lives, much like the temptation in the Garden…’you can be like God.’  We would never state out loud that this was our intent, but we often act it out in reality.  For us to make our own plans and then move forward with the expectation that God will bless our tactics is the height of pride.  James says that when we know what is right and then don’t do it, we are sinning.

We have expectations in our lives.  We expect to live as long as our parents…assuming they lived to an advanced age.  We expect to work until we retire and then have enough money to live comfortably for the remaining years.  We expect to make our own decisions about our own lives.  But…there is nothing like a near fatal accident, or disease, or event to make us recognize we have no control over our lives.  Realization of our own mortality can bring home the truth of our full and complete dependence upon God.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:13-17 (day three)

If we can be sure of anything from James, it’s that his words will humble us. We all have big dreams for ourselves, we make elaborate plans, we imagine how much bigger and better our life will be in the next 5, 10, 15 years. Often, these dreams aren’t bad, they might even be about serving the Lord. But James reminds us here that this is not where we should dwell. We should dream, yes, we should make hopeful plans – but with each thought, with each plan, we should mimic the words of Jesus in Matthew 26, “Yet not as I will, but as You will, Lord.”

James reminds us that our life is but a mist. We live and breathe in this life only by the Spirit. How humbling! Even our most well-laid plans hang on the mercy of God in this quick mist of a life. But this shouldn’t cause us to hang our heads or become stagnant, by no means! We know that this God we rely on is good. The Spirit by which we live and breathe is trustworthy. This humble way of living allows us to be free, it allows us to celebrate! A life relying on our God is full of joy. Humbly go to God with all you’ve got, friends, you’ll come out dancing.

Megan Langan
Associate Minister for Single Adults

Re:Verse passage – James 4:13-17 (day two)

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. vs. 14

How much do we need this passage of scripture today? As I read and re-read this passage I couldn’t help thinking about all that is happening around us. At the end of the day how much have left for tomorrow? Is there a conversation you need to have? A relationship in need of repair? Sin that needs to be dealt with? We are not promised tomorrow, but we have hope today. With so much uncertainty all around make the most of what the Lord has given you. Make this moment a kingdom-sized moment. You are dearly loved.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day seven)

Do you ever feel stuck spiritually? Do you feel like you are in a rut and your wheels are spinning but you aren’t going anywhere? Maybe you even feel like the spinning wheels are digging you deeper into the hole. It seems like the harder you try, the further you get away from God. The issue is that we are focusing on what we can do. In other words, we are trying to fix God sized problems with man made solutions.

James give us simple steps to get us out of a rut. Submit. Resist. Draw near. (vs 7-8) The simplicity is made perfect in consistency. It is not a one time decision that makes everything well and gets us moving. Rather, it is a daily decision to submit your whole self to God while continually fighting off the barrage from the enemy. The promise is that when we do this regularly, we will get closer to Him, and the closer we get to Him, we will realize He was near to us even in the rut.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day six)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

…you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:2-3

James concludes, we don’t get what we want because we aren’t really all that interested in what God wants. Or said in a different way: the key to fulfilling are heart’s desire is to desire what God desires.

That pretty much sums it up.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day five)

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Did you ever imagine that being a believer would be so difficult?  Require so much discipline and diligence?  Demand so much effort and intensity?  That it would be… work?  Well, God did. It’s all throughout scripture, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.

Why is it so difficult?  James answers that in verses 1-4 in our Re:Verse passage this week (it’s you and it’s me). If the Christian life is hard (because of us), it is also heavenly, because of the grace of God. The limitless, inexhaustible, fresh, and generous grace of God.

I was blown away by the words of Alec Motyer this week:  … (God) does not see the inexhaustible supply of grace as sweeping us along to an effortless holiness…The benefits of grace and more grace are ours along the road of obedience and more obedience. The God who says, ‘Here is my grace to receive’ says in the same breath ‘Here are my commands to obey.’

What an amazing economy. The God who knows well the weaknesses and liabilities of the human mind and heart, generously gives a greater supply of Grace.

Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day four)

Verse 5 says, “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”.  God’s desire is that we are close to Him, but have you ever felt like you were growing further and further away from Him?  Did God move away?  Of course not.  God is holy, faithful, unchanging and true.  If we are far away from God, we are the ones who have moved.  Separation can happen very gradually.  Pride fullness slips into our lives and we think we can take care of things ourselves.  Maybe we spend less time in prayer or seek God fewer and fewer times until we finally are not seeking God at all.  We are using our best practices and leaving God out of the equation.

James says “repent”.  To repent is to humble yourself before God.  Be miserable, mourn and weep…recognize who God is and submit to His authority and holiness.  The only way we can have a right relationship with others is to be in right relationship with God!