The Book of JamesSample

Today's Devotional:

Do you ever think to yourself, why has the world gone mad? Watching the news can feel disheartening when there’s so much division and hatred. James chapter 4 not only gives us the reason for our problems (selfishness) and the result of our problems (hostility), but here in the third part, James talks about the solution to our problems—humility. James uses extreme examples to communicate a posture of humility—grieving, mourning, wailing, and gloom. Of course, God doesn’t want us walking around gloomy and wailing forever—but the heart of the message is this: submit to God with a spirit of genuine humility and repentance (and yes, sometimes repentance involves grieving as we come face to face with our sin).

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we take a posture of humility, it not only opens the way for more of God’s grace in our lives, it usually brings peace and solutions to our circumstances and relationships as well.

C.S. Lewis says, “As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”

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Today's devotional was written by Melissa Miller.

Questions:

1. Is there any area of your life you need to submit to God?
2. Who is the most humble person you know, and how does it inspire you?
3. What circumstances and relationships in your life could use more peace, solutions, and ultimately humility?

Prayer:

God, help me to submit to you and draw near to you. Create in me a humble heart. Convict me of any sin and help me to walk in a posture of humility in all circumstances and relationships. Amen.