As I mentioned in our last visit, once we do a study of a portion of scripture and determine as best we can what God is saying to us, we need to develop some personal applications. Our study of God’s word isn’t done until it is done, no pun intended.
We have looked at prayer, compromise, spiritual warfare and over confidence. Throughout James 4 the point is made that God must become prominent in every area of our lives. Prayer is not just getting our desires met. We must delight ourselves in the Lord first. This will significantly affect what we desire.
Sometimes when trying to identify with the world so we can reach it for Christ we leave ourselves open to the world’s attractions. We need to pray that God’s Spirit guard us and when necessary convict us, so we might humbly follow God in an uncompromised way.
It’s also important to remind ourselves that the enemy is out to destroy us. He is greater than us, but he’s no match for God. We must stay close to God and in His strength resist the devil. Only then will he flee from us.
When we plan our day, or week, or further into the future, we must keep in mind how limited our view of the future is. We must turn to God for guidance in determining His will for us.
Once we have peace that His will has been discerned we need to humbly obey. As one has said, “I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.” Remember James 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
