The Book of James

A 10 day devotional series on thriving and surviving this Thanksgiving break

        Day 8

Read:  James 4:13-17
Devo:   You were sitting there at the dinner table, minding your own business, when suddenly someone brought up that question. “So, how are classes going? What major have you chosen? What do you plan to do with your degree? Have you found a job yet?” Just when you thought that the holiday break would be a time to relax and stop thinking about your fear of the future, someone brings it back up… again.  The scripture from James today is only five short verses, but they pack a big punch in this topic. James sheds light on a healthy perspective of the Christian life.  By doing this he challenges our perceived control of the future and our perceived certainty of tomorrow.  Let’s challenge ourselves to bring our stress and fear of the future under God’s control this week. And, the next time you are asked about your future, try responding with “What is life, but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes?” That will certainly cut the conversation short.
Process with the Lord through the journaling questions!
Pray:    Lord, thank you for calming my stress and fear of the future. Show me how to submit it to your control each and every day. Help me to understand that my life is as short as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Teach me to say, “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that”.