“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15)
By default, we tend to make plans for our future and fill our calendars with activities and schedules without regard to certain realities of life like the sovereignty of God. To that end, James warns us that instead of saying “I’m going to do this or that,” we should add this disclaimer, “If the Lord wills.”
What James is actually urging us toward here is not so much about making true statements but rather about possessing the spiritual awareness that we are utterly and ultimately dependent on God, his purposes, and his will for everything in life… even down to our next breath.
A new year waits around the corner. And, of course, we look forward to it because with each new year we sense new hope, new opportunities, new horizons. And so naturally we tend to make new plans toward those ends. All is well and good with these plans as long as we remember this: what is to come in the new year is in God’s hands alone. It is about his will, not my own.
Another thought to remember as we approach this new year is that we have already had many past new years as well as the one we now look forward to. How have we redeemed those years? How have we walked before God in these past years that can serve to spur us on to live this coming one to his glory? And how can we gain a fresh new perspective on what we’ve learned in walking with God in this past year?
We might say, “But my goals this year are new ones. These are my new year resolves.”
James tells us, however, that we ought to consider our submission to the will of God in all things. And that instead of making confident claims about what we intend to do, we should honestly and truthfully consider what we have done, and then further submit ourselves to God’s providence in all he has made us aware of over the past year.
Maybe there’s sin in your life you know you need to repent of. Maybe your worship of God has been lacking. Or maybe you’ve learned how to love others better or how to lead your family more consistently in the ways of God. Maybe you can now see your purpose and place of service in your local church.
However you’ve grown in your walk with the Lord over this past year, realize as this new year approaches how you can further that growth and closeness to him, and how you can submit to his will in your life more fully.
William Williams said, “The great controversy that men have against Christ is his government; they will not have him rule over them.”[1]
Sadly, this is true of the general population. But is it true of you?
Desire to be more submissive to his will over your own in this new year. Come to adore God more than you did this past year and be more thankful for everything he brings into your life. These are the new year resolves that will serve to strengthen your faith and bring glory to him.
Contemplations:
- Lord, I will fear you and honor you. I will honor my superiors. I will cherish my inferiors. I will bond with my equals. I will submit to my elders. I will love my friends. I will hate no man. I will forgive my enemies and pray for them. As much as lies in me, I will keep all your holy Commandments. I will keep your day holy. I will reverence your sanctuary. I will submit to you in this new year.
- 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.
- May I be found following your commands (Eph. 5:22), willing to be led (Heb. 13:17), resigned quietly to fully submit to you (James 4:7), and may I be teachable (1 Peter 5:5). In short, keep me willing to seek, obey, and submit to your will in all things, just as the angels in heaven do.
- 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. Your providence is not blind, though times are dark. There is no chance, no happenstance, no surprises with you. You see all. You know all. You ordain all. Therefore help me to follow you faithfully into the new year with all resolve to glorify the Lord Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
Further references for James 4:15:
1 Cor. 5:6; Prov. 25:14; Prov. 27:1; Prov. 19:21; 1 Cor. 4:19.
[1] William Williams, The Danger of Not Reforming Known Evils, and Other Works, (Crossville, TN: Puritan Publications, 2022) 60.
