The Lord’s Will- Is This What I Want?

Within this last week, I was thinking of a title for this blog post. I read from James 4:13-17, listed below. Our church had some surprising news to share with us this morning. We learned that our Worship Pastor, and his family are moving back to their home state, to work in a new church. Many of us thought they would be in our area, at our church, for several more years, I’m sure. Our church staff at Grace River really work well together and have taught all of us so much. Most of all, they have taught us to love Jesus and love others well! Jordan and his wife strongly believe that this is the direction where the Lord is leading them. In our flesh, of course we want them to stay here. However, when we look from the perspective of God and His will for them, our perspective changes. I’m sure that it was a hard decision, one that had to be covered in prayer. So today, regarding the Lord’s will- is this what I want? Does my plan for tomorrow fit in with His plan?

Key Passage

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:13-17

Is This His Will? Did You Ask Him?

Our plans, whether business, or family or future, must follow according to God’s will. We may try to make our own plans. It is necessary that we always look at our plans through the lens of God and His desire and plan for us. He knows greater than all of us do, how He will accomplish His work here in people’s lives.

Our Life Is A Mist That Vanishes

We don’t have a whole lot of time, even though our days seem long at times, they really are numbered. In verse 14, we read that “you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom

Psalm 90:12 NKJV

Many people around us make all of their plans based on their career and their financial portfolio. It isn’t wrong to plan. We should have A plan. This plan though, has to be prefaced with “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”(verse 15). Any arrogant schemes that people boast about, James says, this boasting is evil.

Know His Good Will And Do It

Chapter 4 ends with the verse that applies well to any part of our life and also defines sin in verse 17.

“If anyone, then knows the good they ought to do, and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:17

When we know His will, we have to do His will! We can’t live on the basis of what we want, when we follow Christ. This applies even if it is for someone else. So, let other’s do the Lord’s will! Let it be what you want!

More To Read

• https://heartshare.blog/2021/11/18/the-one-and-only-true-judge-and-lawgiver/
• https://heartshare.blog/2021/11/11/he-jealously-longs-for-the-spirit-in-us/
• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204%3A13-17&version=NIV

Thank you again, Jordan and Kirsten for serving and loving the way that you do! May God bless you both as you move ahead in His will for your life!

We loved growing more in Small Groups, developing amazing relationships, doing Directions Discipleship, and working on the sound team(Daniel) through your impact Jordan! We both are grateful and are praying for you all!

The picture above shows Jordan and Daniel on a day that they both wore the same color Grace River Church shirt, unplanned at the YMCA. I had to take a picture!