Coach Nick Saban is one of the best college football coaches of all time. He said 3 of his keys to success are:
Vision
Process
Discipline
If you want to be great, you have to have a great vision for yourself and your future, you have to have a plan, and you have to have the discipline to stick to the plan.
Having the discipline to stick to the plan is often the hardest part. We all face ear and confidence issues at times, and there are so many distractions that can keep us from being disciplined and consistent.
But you are what you do, not what you say you are going to do, so if you want to be great at anything, you have to believe in yourself and be consistent in how you put in the work.
Belief (faith) and works are one of the central themes in the Book of James, written by Jesus’s brother. Like his other brothers, James was initially skeptical of Jesus’s claims to be the Son of God, but after Jesus’s resurrection, he became such a believer that he was one of the key early leaders in the church and played a crucial role in guiding the early Christian community.
In James 2:14-24, James talks about how important and powerful both faith and works together. He wrote:
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
What should we have faith in? God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. I have faith that all things will work together for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28) and that God has a plan for me to prosper, and to have hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). We don’t have to be anxious for tomorrow, just do the best we can today (Matthew 6:34).
We have a two-way relationship with God: do what we can and trust that He will provide the rest.
The key is seeking the kingdom of God first and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33), do what we can, and He will provide everything we need.
Have a vision, have a plan, and stay disciplined in doing the work. Seek God and The Holy Spirit for their guidance and have faith that all things will work together.
Something(s) to Think About
1 - What is your biggest takeaway from this devotional?
2 - What is a goal you have for yourself?
3 - What are the 3-5 things you need to do to achieve your goal?
4 - What are 1-3 things that can keep you from being disciplined and doing what you need to do to achieve those goals?
My Prayer
Our Father. Thank you for the hopes and dreams that I have for myself and my life. Please give me the plan and direction I need to achieve those hopes and dreams, and please help me stay disciplined on my journey and keep me from temptation. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
For a printable PDF version of this post, click here: James: Faith and Works
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