James 4:15 KJV
[15] “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
James gives us a great principle to live by every day of our lives. He reminds us to make no plans without acknowledging the Almighty. The sovereignty and will of God should rule our speech and daily decisions. We must exalt the Lord in even the most mundane events of life. Here are a few reasons we should always say, “If the Lord will”.
The first reason is that He deserves to be acknowledged. The Lord is worthy of constantly being recognized in our daily activities. He deserves and desires to be in the center of all that goes on in our lives. We can place Him there by simply saying, “If the Lord will”.
The second reason is that we do not know what a day may bring. Only the Lord knows if we will accomplish the daily tasks we face. Many people get up with a full schedule, not knowing it will be interrupted. Others never arrived at the intended destination because their lives ended unexpectedly. Dear reader, remember the day may take us by surprise, but it never takes the Lord by surprise.
The third reason to acknowledge the Lord is the testimony it shows to the lost around us. Whenever we say to someone, “I’ll be there tomorrow, the Lord willing..” it reminds them of the Almighty. A man who may not allow you to witness to him from the Bible, may be reached by your acknowledgment of God in daily affairs. It is a simple phrase, yet it can be a powerful witness to a sinner. It may even cause him to pause and ask questions about God that he would have never asked. It is a gentle reminder to those who do not know Him and an encouragement to those who do that nothing can happen in our lives unless God allows it.