Today's Verse: James 4:14-15

Wednesday, April 14, 1999

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."
— James 4:14-15
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"If the Lord wills!" Do you do short-term and long-range planning? I do. But my planning always has an invisible asterisk: "If Lord, this is your will and timing, please help me complete these plans." I don't know about you, but God has shown me time and again that if I am open to him, his timing is always better than my planning. Does that mean I quit planning? Nope. I plan with prayer, asking for wisdom and the Holy Spirit to help me find God's timing to know and do his will in his timing (James 1:5-6; Ephesians 5:15-18). Life is too short not to plan. Life is too important not to plan with prayer and seek to be led by the Holy Spirit!

My Prayer...

Not my will, Father, but yours be done... this day and all the days of my life that follow. I want to walk in your will and follow your timing. In Jesus' holy name, I ask this. Amen.

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"Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.""
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Illustration of James 4:15
Inspirational illustration of James 4:15 -- Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Just a Mist
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Greeting card of James 4:14 - What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
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Illustration

Illustration of James 4:14-15 — 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."

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About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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