My Life Is A Vapor

Meditation on James 4:13-16

Problem: I so often in my life make plans and do things without the proper view of God in mind and how he relates to everything that I do. I make plans sometimes without so much as even consulting him in prayer. Whether I do this in arrogance consciously or not, the fact is that I am living with a sinful self-sufficient attitude, an attitude contrary to true dependence on God. This is not God glorifying because as James says, if the Lord wills then whatever it is will happen, with or without me, with absolutely no say from me involved in the matter. 

Application: I will try to keep the sovereignty of God in view when I make my plans in everyday life, and when I voice my plans to others. My speech should reflect a world view that is totally dependent on God for everything and not just when it is convenient for me. 

Heavenly Father,

I thank you that you are in control of everything, 

even the smallest seemingly insignificant things in this world.

I ask for forgiveness when I act without the proper view, 

That if you will, it will surely take place

and if you do not, it certainly will not. 

Guide my thoughts to total dependence on you 

for even the most insignificant of things

In Jesus’ name

Amen

Regretting In Eternity?

This is my response of sorts to one of the devotions in  John Piper's  Life As a Vapor. I adopted his format though slightly modified to serve my purpose as a response/reflection of Matthew 25:14-30.

 I am scared to death of the  words of Jesus in the parable of the talents, to the man who buried his treasure the master says,  ‘You wicked and slothful servant!’ and ‘For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’ I do not want to be the servant whom Jesus comes in upon to inquire of his goods and learns that they were buried in the ground. I do not want to regret the life I lived here on this earth when I look back in heaven.

Problem: I blatantly ignore the prompting of the Spirit for whatever reason because I doubt. I make excuses when God calls me to speak to someone, whether it is to share the gospel with the person or pray for them, or maybe it is  just to encourage the person to pursue a closer walk with God. I get scared sometimes and forget that when God calls me to do something,  he will also equip me with the ability to do his will.

Application: I will listen to the Spirit and his promptings and try to exercise faith especially when I am scared to say something or am worried about how I will look. I will try to keep in view that this life is so short and that God is expecting interest on what he has given to me so graciously. I will try to see the world through an eternal lens that the present reality is passing away and people are perishing everyday to eternal suffering. 

Prayer:

Father, please forgive me when I don’t listen,

Help me to keep in view the passing reality of this life, 

that I may have a sense of urgency to do your work.

Put in me a heart for the lost, to use the gifts you have made available to me 

to demonstrate the kingdom .

Help me to live my life to the fullest extent of what your will has for me 

that before you take me and even in heaven after, 

I will be able to say I have finished,

and fulfilled your purpose.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.