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D.V.
LORD’S DAY, DECEMBER 11
James 4:15

Proverbs 27:1

 

“…thou knowest not what a

day may bring forth.”

 

D.V.
 
What is D.V.? It stands for the Latin “Deo Volente,” which means God willing. James advises those who plan ahead to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). It is better to commit everything to the Lord, for we are not sure if we will still be alive an hour later. We should not be presumptuous to imagine significant gains of riches when we are not even sure of the length of our days on earth.
 
If the Lord wills: James teaches us to be mindful of our dependence on the will of God. We must learn to commit to the Lord even the trivial and minor issues in life. In entrusting everything to the Lord, our hearts are trained to rely on Him and to honour Him whether things go according to plan or not. Leaning upon His will leads us to constant prayers and devotions, for we know nothing can be realised without His permission. It is an excellent reminder that everything is under His control and nothing happens by chance. We must remember that our times are not in our own hands but at the disposal of God. We live as long as He appoints and therefore, we must be submissive to Him.
 
If we shall live: All our actions in life are under God’s control. Yet many plan so much that they are overburdened. We may propose to do much for ourselves, our families, or our friends, but the truth is all these things depend on God alone. Therefore, both our counsels for action and our conduct should be referred to God. All that we plan and all that we do must be with a submissive dependence on God, who has the power to give us breath to live each day.
 
When we talk of future things, let us accustom ourselves to such terms as “the Lord willing,” “if it shall please the Lord,” or “if the Lord will permit.” But let not these become mere Christian jargons uttered without meaning, or used as a holy prescription as though it were a sin to omit them. We say it because we understand what it means. Read what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:5-7.
 
THOUGHT: Do I mean it when I say, “the Lord willing”?
PRAYER: Father, help me understand that everything in my life is under Thy care and plan that I may always seek Thy will in everything that I do.

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