Prayer
Today instead of writing out a sample prayer, I encourage you to think on your own. Where is your heart at as you sit down with God today? Ask him to speak to you and draw you close – in your own words.
Scripture
James 1:22-27 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does. If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Reactions
What figure of speech/illustration does James use here?
Picture yourself in that illustration. Does it make sense?
Digging below the surface
What are we called to do with God’s word (“the message” and “the law of liberty”)?
What is true “religion,” according to this? Does that line up with your previous definition of it?
Make a quick run back through chapter 1. (use the text here or on BibleGateway.com or a book copy of the Bible) How many times and ways is God’s word mentioned?
How important does knowing it seem to our faith?
Making it stick
What are you doing with God’s word in your everyday life?
Notes
It is so incredibly easy to learn more about God, more about the Bible, more about faith, and think, “Shoot, I’ve got this,” then go out and forget it exists. I start living in my own strength, fighting my own battles, and getting worn down. I start complaining, getting irritated with others, or living selfishly because I’m not remembering God’s word. I’m not living in the reality that I belong to God.
It’s a privilege to follow him. Obedience brings me blessing! We have a saying in our house: Life goes better when we obey. (I stole that from a Mom podcast.) When disciplining our kids we emphasize that we have a hard time obeying, just like they do, and that Jesus was the only one who perfectly obeyed. We need God’s help with this life!
Lord, your word is alive. You use it often and in powerful ways in my life. I can’t grow, and I can’t keep myself from believing lies unless I obey your word and let it change me. Please keep this reality in the forefront of my mind so that I keep actively seeking you in your word.