“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
(James 4:15)
We naturally tend to plan for the future and then to have some level of confidence in those plans. Calendars are filled, goals are set, and aspirations are formed without consideration for the absolute sovereignty of God over all our ways. James speaks to this presumption, reminding us that instead of boldly declaring, “I will do this or that,” the Christian ought to say, “If the Lord will.”
This guidance from James is not just about adding a religious phrase to our conversations. It’s about cultivating a deep spiritual awareness that life, breath, and every unfolding moment are in the hands of God. Such awareness guards the heart against pride, self-sufficiency, and forgetfulness of divine providence.
Especially at certain points in the year, we naturally look ahead with anticipation of new hopes, new opportunities, and new endeavors. And it’s even fitting to plan, but only with the full understanding that every moment to come belongs first to God. What is to unfold in the future does not depend on what we do or don’t do but on the will of the Lord.
Past years have come and gone. How have they been redeemed for the glory of God? How have previous days, months, and years been invested in obedience and worship? Each passing year is both a testimony and a lesson, and the approaching year should be shaped by what God has already taught us.
There may be areas where repentance is needed—a sin that has lingered without confession, a coldness in worship, a neglect of prayer. There may be lessons of growth—the need for a deeper love for others, greater consistency in family discipleship, increased joy in service within the local church. Whatever the case, the transition into a new year is not about reinventing one’s self apart from God but about yielding more fully to His will and purpose for our life.
The issue is not about ambition itself but the spirit in which that ambition is held. The believer is called to submit every desire, every hope, and every plan to God’s providence, knowing that His wisdom surpasses human understanding.
William Williams wrote, “The great controversy that men have against Christ is his government; they will not have him rule over them.”[1] This resistance to Christ’s rule is the root of much rebellion in the world—and it can creep subtly into the believer’s heart if left unchecked. So we must ask ourself if there is any area of our life where Christ’s will is resisted? Is there any ambition, relationship, or habit that remains unsurrendered?
Our godly resolve for the new year must be to adore God more, to submit to His authority more fully, and to give thanks in all things. Such resolve strengthens our faith and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. It reorients our heart to pray not for self-determined success but for faithfulness under the rule of the King.
In all the uncertainties of a new year, the believer can rest in this: God’s will is perfect, His providence is wise, and His purposes will stand. Planning is not to be avoided; but taking pride in our plans is. To say in reference to what is planned, “If the Lord will,” is a confession of dependence and an act of worship. This posture transforms how we approach both the blessings and trials of life, making every step an offering of obedience to God’s sovereign hand.
Contemplations:
- As the Lord wills. Lord, I desire to rightly fear You, honor You, and submit to you in this new year. And as much as lies in me, I will keep all Your holy commandments … above all, to love You with all my mind, all my heart, and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself, as You told us these are the greatest of all Your commandments.
- In service and obedience to my King. I seek to obey You with my whole heart in this new year, Lord, acknowledging Your just authority over me, that I might serve You in love for Christ’s sake.
- With full submission of heart. May I be found following Your commands (Ephesians 5:22), willing to be led (Hebrews 13:17), resigned quietly to fully submit to You (James 4:7), and teachable (1 Peter 5:5). Keep me willing to seek, obey, and submit to Your will in all things, just as the angels in heaven do.
- Faithfully following Your providence. Help me, Lord, to also seek and honor Your wisdom. Remind me that even when things are hard, whatever befalls me is Your will. It is therefore best for me. Though times may be dark, there is no chance, no happenstance, no surprises with You. You see all. You know all. You ordain all. Therefore help me follow You faithfully into the new year with all resolve to glorify the Lord Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Prayer
Sovereign Lord, You alone hold my life, my future, and my every breath in Your hands. I bow before You at the threshold of this new year, confessing my utter dependence on Your will. Forgive me for the times I have lived as if I were the master of my own destiny, charting my own course without acknowledging Your sovereign rule. Grant me a humble and submissive heart that delights to say, “If the Lord will, I shall live, and do this, or that.”
I praise You for the mercies that have carried me through the past year. Every provision, every trial, every lesson has been from Your wise and loving hand. Teach me to look back with gratitude, seeing not my own strength but Your faithfulness. Where I have failed, grant me repentance. Where I have grown, grant me further progress. May every step I take in the coming days be guided by Your truth and empowered by Your Spirit.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as King and gladly submit to Your government. Strip away every secret rebellion in my heart. Remove any pride that resists Your leading. Show me where I am clinging to my own plans, and help me lay them down at Your feet. Fill me with a holy resolve to adore You more than I did in the past year, to thank You in all things, and to glorify You in both joy and sorrow.
When I face uncertainty, remind me that nothing is uncertain to You. When I face difficulty, remind me that Your providence is never blind or random. When I face success, keep me from taking credit, and turn my praise to You alone. Teach me to live with open hands, receiving from You what You give and letting go of what You take away, trusting that You do all things well.
Lord, write Your Word upon my heart, that I might obey You with delight. Make me faithful in the small duties of each day, for these are the steps by which a life of godliness is built. Let my tongue speak often of Your goodness, my mind dwell often on Your truth, and my heart beat with love for You.
I commit this year to You, my Lord. Govern my days, my relationships, my labors, and my rest. Keep me from evil, and lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Let my life this year be a testimony to the world that my hope and my confidence rest not in myself but in the will of the living God.
All this I ask in Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References:
1 Corinthians 5:6; Proverbs 25:14; Proverbs 27:1; Proverbs 19:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19
[1] William Williams, The Danger of Not Reforming Known Evils, and Other Works, (Crossville, TN: Puritan Publications, 2022) 60.
