The eighth installment of the Street Smart series brings about a sobering truth as Pastor Jim White explains that no matter what we plan, we have no idea what the future holds.
The New International Version of James 4:14 says “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.”
The New Living Translation version of the same verse offers even more of an encouraging message, stating: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”
Well if that isn’t a slap across the face then I don’t know what is.
The New Living Translation version of the same verse offers even more of an encouraging message, stating: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”
Well if that isn’t a slap across the face then I don’t know what is.
How are we supposed to go merrily about our day after reading a comparison of our seemingly full lives as a quickly disappearing fog?
The thing about fog is we don’t remember it exists until it obscures our vision while we’re driving through the thick of it.
And isn’t that how we tend to think of life?
We live each day in a fog, leaving the “trivial matters” unnoticed until something catastrophic happens and we’re forced to slow down until we can gain a clearer vision.
Did you ever think that God placed the fog there?
That God wants us to slow down, so we don’t veer off the paved road and crash?
The thing about fog is we don’t remember it exists until it obscures our vision while we’re driving through the thick of it.
And isn’t that how we tend to think of life?
We live each day in a fog, leaving the “trivial matters” unnoticed until something catastrophic happens and we’re forced to slow down until we can gain a clearer vision.
Did you ever think that God placed the fog there?
That God wants us to slow down, so we don’t veer off the paved road and crash?
James must have thought this as he goes on in verse 15 (NIV) to tell us “Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
How often do we actually say this and mean it? If it is the Lord’s will.
Pastor White makes the point that we are not to pray that prayer hoping that God will let us go through with our original plans.
Instead, we are to pray that prayer lifting up our plans to God and asking him to anoint them and bless them if they are part of his will.
How often do we actually say this and mean it? If it is the Lord’s will.
Pastor White makes the point that we are not to pray that prayer hoping that God will let us go through with our original plans.
Instead, we are to pray that prayer lifting up our plans to God and asking him to anoint them and bless them if they are part of his will.
But wait, what about the saying “A failure to plan is a plan to fail”?
We are taught our whole lives to plan.
It starts in middle school where we plan simple things like who’s coming to our 13th birthday party and what we’re wearing to the school dance.
Then we get to high school and we have to plan which courses to take that will give us college credit, not to mention when we reach senior year we should be planning what university to attend.
And that plan better be a good one, because that decides what job we get and inevitably determines the quality of our life.
At least that’s what we’re taught.
We are taught our whole lives to plan.
It starts in middle school where we plan simple things like who’s coming to our 13th birthday party and what we’re wearing to the school dance.
Then we get to high school and we have to plan which courses to take that will give us college credit, not to mention when we reach senior year we should be planning what university to attend.
And that plan better be a good one, because that decides what job we get and inevitably determines the quality of our life.
At least that’s what we’re taught.
So does this mean forget all the plans we have made, throw them to the wind, and live each day on a whim because our plans don’t really matter?
Not quite.
We are to make plans for our lives that are pleasing to the Lord and that glorify Him.
The difficult task that comes with this powerful prayer is discerning what is our will and what is truly God’s will.
This is where it’s important to remember that while what is God’s will may not always be easy, it is ALWAYS in our best interest.
The last post states a truth that begs to be repeated: if we have truly given over all we have to the Lord, our will should mirror his.
And if our will mirrors that of the Lord’s, we shouldn’t have any issue praying this prayer.
Not quite.
We are to make plans for our lives that are pleasing to the Lord and that glorify Him.
The difficult task that comes with this powerful prayer is discerning what is our will and what is truly God’s will.
This is where it’s important to remember that while what is God’s will may not always be easy, it is ALWAYS in our best interest.
The last post states a truth that begs to be repeated: if we have truly given over all we have to the Lord, our will should mirror his.
And if our will mirrors that of the Lord’s, we shouldn’t have any issue praying this prayer.
And just to dispel any doubts: yes, it is His will for you to finish that term paper.
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