Living In The Middle - Week 1

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we're confronted with a penetrating question from James 4:13-17: are we planning our lives with God at the center, or are we simply asking Him to bless plans we've already made? This message strips away our illusions of control by reminding us that our lives are like morning fog—here for a moment, then gone. The people James addressed had detailed plans for profit and success, yet they excluded the most critical element: "if the Lord wants." We often fall into the same trap, setting resolutions and goals without surrendering the throne of our lives to Jesus. The challenge isn't about making better plans; it's about acknowledging that Christ must be both our Savior and our Lord. He's not just the one who rescues us—He's the one who rules us. When we call Him "Lord" but don't do what He says, we're building our houses on sand instead of rock. This year, the invitation is radical: stop planning a year and start living a day. Today is what we have. Today is where faith happens. If we can align our direction toward seeking God's kingdom and living righteously just for today, and then do it again tomorrow, we'll look back after 365 days and discover we've traveled further in faith than any yearly resolution could have taken us.