Transforming Trials is an amazing Bible study written by my good friends, Mason and Marina Shelton.
Week 3 Day 5 focuses on James 4:13-17
Mason and Marina’s launching pad statement: We often speak as if we are in control of our future. It then shocks us when something happens to interrupt our “perfect” plan. But we must verbally acknowledge the sovereignty of God in our everyday lives.
Boasting is one of those sins that goes under the radar for most Christians. It’s the sliver of arrogance attached to our flesh that most of us have yet come toe to toe with. Does anyone have issues with boasting about tomorrow? Anyone a planner? I have a plan for today, tomorrow, a one year plan and even a five year plan. Do we plan away God’s ordering of our steps? Do we even keep Him in mind as we plan our lives? Do we struggle bus when God takes a detour, well something that looks like a detour in our eyes.
Mason makes a statement on page eighty one that strikes me as simple yet profound. “James points out that our swords should reflect an acknowledgement that we are finite creatures with a short life span of living in a universe reigned by an eternal, perfect, sovereign God.” It’s good for us to acclimate ourselves once again to the mighty working of God in our lives so that when trials come we aren’t scrounging around in frustration questioning God’s goodness.
We boast about tomorrow when in reality we boast of what we do not know. Is boasting sin? Is boasting arrogance? Is boasting prideful?
It’s important that we bow our head in humility and say, ” I do not know!”
It’s important for me to remember I Peter 4:12! He warns us to not be surprised when the hardships come!
Some take-away “one liners” I see from Mason and Marina for Week 3 day 5 are listed below:
“One seed from which anxiety sprouts-a disordered love for control, a distrust in the Lord, and arrogance- is sin and must be treated as such”.
“You might be surprised when that hard time hits or when your dreams seem to dissipate. But God is not surprised.
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