Sunday, September 13

The Problem with Presumption
Speaker: Dave Van Winkle

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” - James 4:14-15 (NLT)

Devotional

The great temptation of life is to put oneself in the place of God. The pride of life, in all of its blind certainty, is a robber of true peace and rest. James's lesson in this passage is humility that leads to joyful dependence on a good God. Every day is a gift just as every breath is a provision and a promise of the fullness of life to come.

Discussion

Where do you see James discussing the future plans of people, safety for careers, etc? What is James trying to communicate through verses 13-14?
What plan do you have for the future, career, marriage, etc? Is this plan based on what you feel and want or God’s direction?
How do our plans tend to compare with the plans that God sets before us?

Prayer

Spend a considerable amount of time in silence in a posture of submission and listening. If your mind wanders, focus on and repeat the words of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane: “Not my will, but your will be done”.
What did you hear or sense? Pray out what the Lord has stirred. Ask to step into a faith posture that depends on and is sustained by the person of God, rather than God being an afterthought of our own trajectory and plans.

Practice

Daily Prayer Guide
Monday, September 14

Readings

Psalm 66
John 3:11-17 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

Tuesday, September 15

Readings

Psalm 61
John 12:9-19 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

Wednesday, September 16

Readings

Psalm 72
John 12:20-26 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

Thursday, September 17

Readings

Psalm 71
John 12:27-36a 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

Friday, September 18

Readings

Psalm 69:1-21 
John 12:36b-43 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

Saturday, September 19

Readings

Psalm 75
John 12:44-50 

Prayer of Examen

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.

  • Express gratitude
  • Review the day
  • Name your sorrows
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Ask for grace for tomorrow

Weekly Prayer

Invite God into your prayer and ask for the grace to see yourself honestly as you review your day using the five steps below as a guide. Meditate on your responses or journal as you move through the reflections.