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I spent Sunday night in the hospital. I had my day all planned: I would go to church, come back home and do a write-up that one of my senior ministers had requested; and study for my impending exams!  

Just when I had packed my stuff,  and was about to enter the house, my wife came out with my 8 year old daughter, and told me she was wheezing. The brother noticed the wheezing while we were in church.

I decided to stay outside with her for some fresh air. Then we stepped out to get some medication, and called Alex (my close pal; and medical doctor). Then we realized she was getting hot. We ended up at the hospital – The first time since Covid-19 was announced!

She was put on the nebulizer a couple of times, till the doctor on duty felt she was stable enough to go home. We were released, and got back home around midnight!

We stepped off to buy medication, but ended up in the hospital for hours! I had planned my Sunday, but God knew better! We have very little control.

Often, we make very elaborate plans; and say we would do this or that or that. But we leave the one who makes all things happen out! We often set ourselves up for failure when we do that.

It is important we commit everything we do into God’s hands; and when we do that, if they don’t even go the way we want, we still have the confidence that the all-knowing God has our back, and knows why it didn’t go the way we expected. That way, we have peace.

READ James 4:13-15

“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. Instead you ought to say,

“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.“

(James 4:13-15)

In the frenzy of life, it is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking we will wake up alive and well tomorrow, and the sun will rise as usual; and we will do this or that. But James (believed to be the brother of Jesus), noticed how futile our plans and efforts are when we don’t involve God and admonished us to involve God; even telling us the very words we should use; telling us to say:

“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.“

This is just a few words, but when we get into the habit of using them, we end up doing three things:

1. We remind ourselves we are not alone in what we are about to do; and this boosts our confidence.
2. It makes us avoid evil, and work within the will of God.
3. It becomes our prayer, in case we have not already prayed about what we are about to do.

“Man proposes, but God disposes.” Says Proverbs 19:21.

Let us always commit to, and stay in the will of God.

MEMORY VERSE

“Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

QUESTIONS

1. What are you planning today?

2. Have you committed your plans to God?

PRAYER TIPS

 Lord, please teach us to depend on You always, so that we can be successful in all we do; to Your glory.

Written by:
BENNY MALM

For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL

URGENT CALL

If you don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, you need to do that now!

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

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We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

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