Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-10
The Step-By-Step Process
Ever wanted a step-by-step process to success? I have. Often it seems like successful people give vague advice that you have to kind of figure out on your own.
He will exalt you.
Sometimes, if I’m being totally honest, I would rather just skip the step-by-step process and go right to the success. Wouldn’t it be nice if God just wrapped success up with a bow and dropped it in my lap?
James talks about God exalting us in verse 10. What???? Most of the time in church culture, if we are talking about exalting anything, it is in reference to us exalting God.
The Definition of Exalt
Exalt means to lift up or raise in rank, power, character, or praise/estimation/reputation.
It makes since to exalt God in praise. He is already as high as is possible in rank, power, and character. There is no one higher.
How amazing would it be for God to exalt us?!?
James says that if we follow five steps, that is exactly what will happen. God will exalt our character. Our rank. Our power. Our reputation. Sounds like success to me!
Does God trust you?
I think that God has a reason and a purpose in exalting those who follow these steps. When we follow these steps, God can trust us with His reputation. His name.
With these five steps, we shine a light draw others to God. He can trust us to represent Him well.
What are the Five Steps?
1. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Practically speaking, submit to what God wants and what the Bible says. Resist the devil, resist temptation. When we resist the devil, he has to flee from us. Yay!
2. Draw near to God.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8a
What an incredible promise! When we snuggle up to God, read His word, talk to Him, inch toward Him in any way, He draws near to us. He doesn’t stand off aloof and wait for us to figure everything out. God actively comes toward us.
3. Cleanse your hands.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners James 4:8b
Cleansing our hands refers to our actions. We need to address the sins we are actively committing and stop. So, take a moment to look at your life and see if there is sin you have been holding on to. Then, kick it to the curb.
4. Purify your hearts.
Purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8c
This the part where we address the inward stuff: thoughts, attitudes, resentments, bitterness – out they go! Especially pay attention to areas where you have one foot in and one foot out (mentally speaking). Move from a double-minded to single-minded focus on a Christ-centered life.
5. Humble yourself.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10
Realize that in view of the Almighty God we are not worthy of admiration. We need to humble ourselves and get rid of pride.
We need to realize that it is God’s job to exalt us. Not ours.
Action Step:
Our Focus today is REPENTANCE!
Repentance: not just being sorry for our sin, though that is a part of it. Also, turning away from it and choosing to do what is right instead.
Go through the five steps one by one. Do a heart check for each one and start stepping in the right direction today.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for drawing near to us. Thank You for trusting us with your name and reputation. Help us to follow the five steps and to live in a way that is worthy of Your trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.
