Daily Devotional
Are You Planning God’s Way?
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
James 4:13-14
December 29, 2021
Ponder This
The man in this passage seems productive and successful. He’s doing all of this planning. It doesn’t look like he’s doing anything wrong. The Bible certainly doesn’t condemn business; it encourages it. Neither does the Bible condemn planning; it encourages it. The Bible is not against making a profit. These things are not wrong.
Look at this man and you’ll find out what was wrong with him. He left God out of his plans altogether. He’s not consulting with God. He’s not seeking the will of God. He’s like so many today. Your worship life is one thing; your business life is another thing. You’ve divided your life into the secular and the sacred. And so you come to church and worship, and then you plan your life as if there were no God. And the biggest fool is not the man who says there’s no God; the biggest fool is the man who says there is a God and then doesn’t live like it. Have you really taken God into your plans?
- How much do you factor God into your plans each day?
- What would it look like to do this faithfully?
Practice This
Take out your schedule for the week. Consider what it would look like to plan your entire week with God in mind and adjust as you feel prompted by the Holy Spirit.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
