SEEK GOD’S PLAN FIRST
M.I.T. Nicole Brooks              

James 4:10 – Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]

As children, we are encouraged to dream and aspire to be great; to strive for purpose and fulfillment that satisfies the yearning to become something important and accepted by our peers. Though setting goals and making plans is a good thing, we must not allow our own desires to interfere in the plan of God. 

In this passage, James warns us that without seeking God, strife can manifest itself in our efforts to seek success. Strife is conflict—conflict with God. You see, with strife, jealousies become the root of our intentions and motives. Seeking self-gratification and achieving personal happiness taints our ability to follow God’s will, and our attitude of service is then transformed into selfish desires that breed hate and cause continual war and fighting.

God requires us to have a deep and sincere relationship with him that would supersede any worldly desire we may have. Ask and desire to please God and obtain his perfect will through humility and his all sufficient grace. God gives us his spirit that we may be victorious in him when we consult him in prayer. For the Lord will then exalt and lift you up and make your life significant.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you leading us in the path of righteousness and revealing your plan and purpose for our lives; for giving us the perfect plan and the ability to accomplish every goal in your will. Amen.