Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus: James 4:13–17

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 

Devotional Thought

We live in a culture that celebrates control, independence, and self-determination. The message is clear: You can do whatever you set your mind to—your destiny is in your hands. But James reminds us of a sobering truth: our lives are like a vapor—here for a moment and gone the next.

Making plans, setting goals, and working hard are not sinful in themselves. What James confronts is the arrogance of living as if God were not sovereign. When we boast about what we will do tomorrow without considering God’s will, we reveal a heart that has displaced Him from His rightful place as Lord.

Instead, the posture of a believer should be humble dependence: “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” These words are not a cliché but an act of faith. They remind us that our breath, our time, and our opportunities are gifts from God. To live otherwise is pride, and James warns us that such boasting is evil.

True freedom is not found in absolute autonomy but in joyful submission to God’s will. When we yield our plans to Him, we live with peace, humility, and purpose—trusting the One who holds tomorrow in His hands.

Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of your life do you tend to make plans without seeking God’s will first?

2. How does remembering that life is a “vapor” change the way you view your time and priorities?

3. Do you truly believe God’s sovereignty is better than your own control? Why or why not?

4. How can you build the habit of saying—and believing—“If the Lord wills” in your daily decisions?

Closing Prayer

Father, I confess that I often live as though I am in control of my own life. Forgive me for the pride of making plans without You. Teach me to humbly say, “If the Lord wills,” not just with my lips but with my heart. Help me to trust Your sovereignty, submit my will to Yours, and walk in faith each day You give me. My life is but a vapor—may it be spent for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.