Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
8 “Draw near to GOD, and GOD will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. 9 Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 When you bow down before the LORD and admit your dependence on HIM, HE will lift you up and give you honor.” ~ James 4:8-10
How do we draw near to GOD? James gives us five ways: (1) Humble yourselves before GOD (4:7). Yield to HIS authority and HIS will, commit your life to HIM and HIS control, and be willing to follow HIM. (2) Resist the Devil (4:7). Do not allow Satan to entice and tempt you. (3) Wash your hands….and purify your hearts (live a pure life) (4:8). Be cleansed from sin, replacing your desire to sin with your desire to experience GOD’s purity. (4) Let there be sorrow and deep grief for you sins (4:9). Do not be afraid to express deep heartfelt sorrow for what you have done. (5) Bow down before the LORD, and HE will lift you up (4:10). – 6 “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of GOD, and in HIS good time HE will honor you. 7 Give all your worries and cares to GOD, for HE cares about what happens to you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7 – When we carry our worries, stresses, and daily struggles by ourselves we are showing that we have not trusted GOD fully with our life. But it takes humility to recognize that GOD cares, to admit our need, and to let others in GOD’s family help us. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not GOD’s concern. But when we turn to GOD in repentance, HE will bear the weight even of those struggles. Letting GOD have our anxieties calls for action, not passivity. We can not submit to circumstances but to the LORD, who ultimately controls all circumstances.
Bowing before the LORD means recognizing that our worth comes from GOD alone. To be humble involves leaning on HIS power and HIS guidance, and not going our own independent way. Although we do not deserve GOD’s favor, HE wants to lift us up and give us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings.
Father GOD, we want to draw near to YOU. Purify our hearts LORD and cleanse us from within. We want to yield to YOUR authority and YOUR will. We commit our life to YOU and YOUR control – we want to follow YOU. Replace our desire to sin with a desire to experience YOUR purity. We give all our worries and circumstances to YOU, Father because YOU are the ONE who controls all circumstances.
Photo: Thompson Pass (Montana)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
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