How often do you make plans without ever pausing to ask whether God is included in them? The phrase “If the Lord Wills” sounds simple, but it carries a profound lesson in humility that any believer can learn.
James 4:15 confronts a pattern of proud, self-sufficient planning that is just as common today as it was in the first century.
If you have ever made big plans and left God entirely out of the picture, this devotional will gently but firmly call you back to the wisdom of surrendered living. Keep reading.
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If the Lord Wills: Key Takeaway
- Humbly submitting every plan to God’s sovereignty is the wisest and most faithful way to live each day.
Verse of the D“a”y
Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.
— James 4:15 (NKJV)
James wrote this correction to believers who were arrogantly planning their futures as though God had no say in them. In the verses before, he described people boasting about tomorrow, certain of what they would do and where they would go, without a single thought for God’s will.
His correction is clear and direct: instead of that kind of proud presumption, the believer should always frame their plans with the phrase If the Lord Wills.
This is not fatalism or passivity but the mark of a heart that knows who is truly in control of every day, every breath, and every opportunity.
Key Explanations
- Instead you ought to say: A direct correction of the arrogant attitude described in verses 13 and 14, calling believers to a completely different posture in their planning.
- If the Lord wills: A humble acknowledgment that God is sovereign over all human activity, plans, and outcomes, and that His purposes always take precedence over ours.
- We shall live: A reminder that even life itself is not guaranteed. Every day is a gift from God and not something we are owed or can control.
- Do this or that: Our specific plans and activities are entirely subject to God’s permission and direction, whether business, travel, ministry, or personal goals.
If the Lord Wills: A Reflection
If the Lord wills is a phrase that once rested naturally on the lips of every sincere believer.
In recent times, it has been replaced with the language of self-confidence and personal ambition. James 4:15 calls us back to something better. Proverbs 16:“9” says:
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
This verse perfectly captures the balance that James is pointing to. You are allowed to plan. You are encouraged to dream, set goals, and work hard toward them. But the final word on every plan always belongs to God.
To say if the Lord wills, I believe, is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom. It is the acknowledgment that you know who holds the future.
Think about the apostle Paul. Throughout the book of Acts and his letters, Paul consistently used this kind of language:
- In Acts 18:21, he told the believers at Ephesus, “I will return again to you, God willing.”
- In First Corinthians 4:19, he wrote, “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills.
Paul was one of the most driven, goal-oriented men in Scripture. He had enormous ambitions for the gospel. But those ambitions were always held with open hands, submitted to the will of God. So here, we see that Paul’s trust in God’s sovereignty is explored in depth.
How should you live this truth today?
- Begin your day by laying your plans before God.
- Tell Him what you are hoping to accomplish.
- Then listen.
- Then move forward with both diligence and humility, holding your plans loosely and trusting that His adjustments are always better than your original design.
God’s sovereignty over our lives is a foundation for this kind of surrendered living.
Note thought that if the Lord wills is not a prayer of resignation. It is a prayer of trust. It says, “God, I believe Your plan is better than mine, and I am choosing to walk in it for an active, faith-driven living.
Plan wisely. Pray humbly. And always hold your future with open hands.
Blessings…!
Do This Today
- Write out your top three plans for today, lay them before God in prayer“,” and deliberate“l”y say, “If the Lord wills” over every one of them.
Your Affirmation for Today
- I hold all my plans with open hands, knowing that if the Lord wills, His plan for me is always better than my own.
Prayer Point for Today
- Surrendering My Plans to God’s Sovereignty: Ask God to help you develop the daily habit of submitting every plan, goal, and decision to His will before you move forward. Pray specifically for humility in your planning and trust in His direction even when it differs from what you expected.
Let’s Pray
Our Father, teach us to hold our plans with open hands and trust Your sovereign will in all things. Help us to say if the Lord wills with a heart of genuine submission and trust.
In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
My prayer for you today: I pray that you walk through this day holding your plans loosely, and that the Lord’s will becomes the greatest ambition of your heart.
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