The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional - Saturday, Third Week of Advent – A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse
To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Week 1, Day 2 – God is the Power that Binds All Things Together
Photo by Zachary Olson on Unsplash
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
James 4:13–16
God is God and we are not. This means our plans must give way to the perfection of his will. We often believe that we have total control over our lives and that everything is up to us. While we can and should make important decisions about our lives, we must accept that we are dependent on the Lord for our next breath. God is truly the author and perfecter of our faith (see Heb 12:2). Our lives and our plans are completely in his hands.
By recognizing that God is the source of all we do, we align our actions to his will. This brings us great freedom from worry and enables us to move forward, trusting in his sovereign care for our lives. It also brings us confidence, strength, and purpose to all we do, allowing us to respond to his commands, joyful and hopeful for the future. We know that our lasting legacy is in heaven not here on earth.
Questions for reflection
Is it hard for you to relinquish control of your life? What are some of the areas where this is hardest for you, and why?
Has there been a time in your life when yielding to God’s will brought you prosperity and peace?
What are some upcoming decisions in your life that you need to give over to God’s care?
Praying with Scripture
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:17)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
