January 2025 James: A Faith That Works Week 5

Hi family,

Welcome to Week Five of our Embrace the Word Study, “James: A Faith that Works!” This is not a full week, but it will be the final few days as we close out our study.

(Link to the FREE Devotional Guide at the end of this email)

In Week Four, we spend some time camped in James’ seven imperatives that help us resist the pull of the world. The enemy desires to pull us backward into an adulterous relationship with worldliness. This can happen so subtly that it can be difficult to recognize until James clearly instructs us to “submit yourselves to God.” This submission is a loving invitation to come up under God’s authority and sovereignty over our lives. It requires us to yield our desires, plans, and even our ambitions to Him. Here are some ways we can submit to God: 

Pray: Pray for a heart that desires to submit to God. Ask Him to reveal areas of your life where you need to yield your will to His.

Trust God’s Plan: Trust God’s plan for your life, even when circumstances are challenging or unclear. Remind yourself that His ways are higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Acknowledge Your Dependence on God: Recognize that you need God! Humility is key to submission—admit that you cannot do anything on your own. Acknowledge His divine strength at work in your life.

Obediently Follow the Holy Spirit’s Leading: Keep in step with the Holy Spirit. When you feel His leading, choose to obey, even if it feels challenging or uncomfortable.

Many believe that submission is restrictive, but in reality, submitting to God’s authority leads to freedom. Submission to God is a path to grace and blessings. 

We have come to the final three days of James. What a journey it has been! James is a small book, but there is a lot to digest. So, if you haven’t finished, please keep going; it will bless your life. 

Also, I wanted to tell you about February’s study. In February, we will do a topical study on the heart. For our purposes, the heart is not just the organ that pumps blood through our bodies. The heart is the center of our emotions and will. The ETW theme for February is Matters of the Heart: What the Bible Says about the Heart. More to come on this is February’s email. 

Thank you all again for sharing in God’s Word with me. I am overjoyed! 

I look forward to our continued journey together!

Don’t forget to download Week Five ​HERE​.

If you missed Week One, you can download it ​HERE​. 

If you missed Week Two, you can download it  ​HERE​. 

If you missed Week Three, you can download it ​HERE​.

If you missed Week Four, you can download it ​HERE​.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Your friend in the journey, 

Remember: The Word W.O.R.K.S. We are walking in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success through the Word of God.