Hope you all are having a great week so far. I’m so confused…yesterday I thought it was Thursday which really was a bummer when I woke up and today was not Friday! Here’s James chapter 4. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Check out these questions and add your thoughts!
Here are a few questions to think about regarding James 4. Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!
~I talked about drawing near to God (James 4:8) What mental image comes to mind with that verse? What emotions are stirred up at the thought of drawing near to God as He draws near to you?
~Back up to James 4:4-7. What does it mean to you to be an enemy of the world and a friend to God?
~What are some “worldly” things you can back away from in order to draw closer to God TODAY?
Pingback: The Book of James and My Friend Sarah, Take 4!
I LOVE YOUR VBLOGS. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
Actually, what hit me most in James 4 was something you mentioned, but it didn’t hit me in the way you mentioned it. . .
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. . .” James 4:8 (btw, we use the same version ;))
I realized that when I hit spiritual lows or feel unfulfilled in my relationship with Him, I tend to step back and go “Fine God. Prove yourself. Do something amazing. You restore this relationship,” rather than drawing ever closer to Him in the midst of it.
I totally needed to hear that.
LOVE YOU <3 and your blog design is super ultra cute. . .
Sarah, I feel so good seeing you in action in our bible study together. I do feel that planning is a good thing for everyone. What if you were a person who was always lost? What if you were questioning the route to take?
I guess what I am saying to you is……You are in touch with God and You are listening to him just by doing this Bible study. Go for it Sarah! I appreciate you and your energy. Love, Mom
I had to laugh- we were having a toddler moment here & I needed to regroup I sat opened my Bible as I knew I had 3 minutes if not 2 or 3 lots of 3 minutes the way the meltdown was going!! My bookmark was ready for James 4.
Of course The opening lines are: 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
Lol!! I could just see how God was smiling at what was happening in our house!!
On thinking about drawing near to God and James mentions 3 things that get in the way of that closeness: the world ( being worldly)- v4; the flesh:v5 & the enemy:v6.
I also really liked your point about planning- I’m a planner, I love a good shedule & a good list!! Maybe I need to title my calendar with “God willing..Carolyn’s calendar or To do” that way I might stop rising in and making plans and not having proper perspective and giving due consideration and respect to the Lord as I make “my” plans.
I’m glad that I was given extra time today to sit in the Word- againhow fitting is the study- right words, right time!
In His Grace,
C
Hi Sarah!
I have just come across your blog in the past week and a half, and it just so happened that I was about to start a study of James! So, I am a little behind, but here are my thoughts:
James 4:8 – “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
The thought of drawing near to God makes me wary. While I know that it will ultimately bring me good things, it forces me to acknowledge that the things I want may not be the things that God wants for me. That is a scary thought for me, because I too am a planner. God must be trying to tell me something though, because this morning I heard a sermon on making room for God’s presence during this holiday season. In Mt 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” This melts away any wariness that I feel about drawing close to God, because while it seems like it would be a lot of work to change your heart and mind toward godly things, God promises that he will give us rest. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I know anyone who couldn’t use a little rest!
Thanks so much for your posts, Sarah!
Love,
Stefanie