“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16).

This simple sentence is probably the root of most of the discord in any fellowship.  There are those who want to have authority for themselves, and they will do whatever is needed to gain it.  It is based upon jealousy and ambition.  The product is disorder.  Evil only needs to be a degree off to send anyone and everyone in the wrong direction.  Hold up good order and fight the good fight for what is right.  Be of the same mind one toward another.

Lord, You know where there is discord.  You know where I have caused it.  Remove evil so that Your people may flourish.  Guide me dear Lord in the way of truth in order that I may now and forever be led by You to go the way of all righteousness.  Let not harbor  evil  within me and help me to root it out by Your power and under Your direction with Your good order in mind whenever I see it.  You alone are Sovereign Lord and no one else should or can take Your place.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is there hope for all ages.  Guide me where I have jealousy and ambition to look to You.  Lead me into holiness.  Grant me the ability to fight the good fight when I see discord and evil things.  Through it all, establish Your church so that in Your goodness, Your grace and mercy may prevail.  Lead Your faithful into the ways of righteousness on the path of faith which is set before us all.  Amen

“This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic” (James 3:15).

Learning how to mask our issues is what the world teaches.  That, and learning how to seem normal when you are doing wickedness.  It may be self-control as far as the world is concerned, but it is wickedness as far as the Lord is concerned.  Do not be double-minded, but set your mind on seeking what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Look to Him and he will remove what needs to be removed.

Lord, You are the One who created me and You know all things.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always be guided by You, my Lord and my God.  Where I do have ideas in conflict within me, remove the evil and strengthen the good.  Through all things, help me to understand and be a willing participant in Your goodness.  Keep my eyes upon You, O Lord, and lead me the way I need to go to become more like You.

Lord Jesus, You are the example for us all.  Help me today as I walk through the mire of this world.  Keep my heart in the right place, and in those places where the world tempts me to be double-minded, lead me away from that temptation and into truth.  You have set me free from sin and death, now free me from the inside out to be Yours forever.  Thank You Lord for doing all that is needed that this may be done.  Amen.

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth” (James 3:14).

One wonders how often this kind of thing happens.  There are those who do seem to behave this way in the church.  But that is speculation.  What then?  Take these things to heart lest they well up in your heart and then what has not been dealt with comes out of your mouth.  We all have issues, and some are repressed.  Confess, confess, and confess and let these things out so that the Lord may truly give you a clean heart.

Lord, I do not know all the places in my heart which have been affected over my lifetime, but there are things that have happened which cause me to act and react in certain ways.  Lead me Lord to the place where I can let these things go and live as You would have me live.  Guide me, Lord, in the right direction and help me to move toward the place where I truly am acting like Christ.

Lord and Savior Jesus, You know where I need to go today.  You know what I am able to face and those things that You will work on in me.  Lead me in gentleness so that I would not do evil, but instead be guided by You and the goodness of Your grace.  Help me to see that only in You, Lord, is there hope and a future.  Let me walk willingly with You this day as You lead me in the direction I need to go.  Amen.

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom” (James 3:13).

Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are different things.  There are elements of each in the others, but they are different.  If the Lord has given you wisdom, then use that wisdom for His sake and share your wisdom with others.  Be guided by the principle that He is at work in You and in others too.  We are placed together for His sake and in His purpose, He will grow in us the likeness of Christ.

Lord, there are things You have given to me which others would call wisdom.  Let me not keep these things stored away, but offer them as a gift to any who would receive them.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I might grow each day in knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  Let these things come out in and through the things that I do.  Help me to know that in You alone is all grace, mercy, and hope.

My Lord and Savior, You have those things which You will go to work on in me this day.  Lead me according to Your goodness to look to You for all understanding.  Help me to listen as Your Spirit gives me wisdom.  Most of all, help me to walk the walk of one who believes and lives out the life of faith You have given me in such a way that others see that I believe.  In You alone is there all hope and the only future worth living.  Grant me the wisdom to act on this truth in word and deed.  Amen.

“Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh” (James 3:11-12).

This metaphor has slightly changed, but hopefully you get the point.  In our age, people think they can be of the world, and also of the Lord.  You cannot mix good and evil.  Mind you, we are all mixed up and we need the Lord’s help, which is why we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”  The plea here is for you to take seriously the work that needs to be done in order that You may be in the Lord now and forever.

The salvation part belongs to the Lord.  Only He can do this, but you must be a willing participant.  Each time you fall, get back up. Look to the Lord and move forward.  Sometimes you’ll even take a few steps backward.  You’ll find that somehow or other this stumbling will have done you some good.  Come then and be on the journey of becoming like Christ and know that He will complete you.

Lord Jesus, you must be the author and finisher of my faith, for without You these things are impossible.  Help me see where I am mixing things up and then help me to willingly walk with You as You go to work in me.  Guide me to be intentional about all that I say and do.  Help me to look for the good and shun the evil in me.  Above all things, give me grace for others as they too struggle.  Amen.

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:10-11).

We do good and evil.  Our parents thought we could handle both good and evil.  Look at history and you see that we cannot.  We cannot be both good and evil.  We will end up either one or the other.  You have the call of Christ before you.  That is the call to good.  You cannot serve the Father and yourself.  There can only be one Master and that is the Lord.  Your struggle is ever before you.

Lord, I see the places where I wrestle.  I want to be in control.  Guide me away from the wrestling of my spirit so that I may be guided by You alone.  You know the direction I need to go.  You know the struggles I have.  You know the tug-of-war that is constantly pulling me in different directions.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of salvation in order that I would stop the striving and rest in You.

Lord Jesus, You came to save me.  I need saving.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Lead me in the way of hope, truth and goodness.  My Lord and Savior, You know what I need.  You know how to accomplish all that is needed.  You have provided the way of salvation.  Guide me in that way.  Help me to know and understand that You are making all things new, including me.  Amen.

“But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).

No one can tame the tongue.  Listen, our faith is not based upon self-control.  You just can’t do it.  But at just the right time, the One who can has come along so that You can follow Him as He cures the ills endemic in us all and heals our sinfulness by replacing it with godliness.  We need the Savior to do the saving.  Do not fall into the trap of the Pharisees, relying on works for salvation; instead live in the grace which is yours in Christ.

Lord, I am saved by grace through faith.  Lead me to understand that I indeed need saving.  Guide me into Your goodness to know that in You alone there is all hope and a future.  Lead me away from trying to do things on my own and rest in the knowledge that my help comes from the Lord.  You have given us powerful things like the tongue and we cannot handle them on our own.  But with the help of the Lord we can and will handle them rightly.  Lead me, Lord!

Lord Jesus, You came to fulfill the law.  Guide me according to Your goodness – Yours not mine – so that I would follow Your example and be led by You.  Help me through this day.  That is enough.  Help me to be one who sees You work on and in me such that the impossible is done because You are the One doing it.  Lead me into a righteous lifestyle so that I may be transformed by You for the Father’s purpose.  Amen.

“For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race” (James 3:7).

What has more power?  The tongue or a strong man?  It is the tongue, the ability to communicate, which makes a key difference between man and beast — such a small thing that makes such a big difference.  Christ has come to make all things new.  What will be the new thing that will set apart the new man in Christ?  We shall see, but it is probably something we would not expect.

Lord, You know how deliberately confusing some in this world are.  They look you in the eye and lie.  Animals do not lie to you.  This difference can also be used for good.  Turn my tongue away from the fire of this rebellious age and toward You and the Good Word You give by grace.  You know what I need.  Lead me to go where I need to go so that I may have Your word on my lips always.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh.  You have come in order that all those who come through You would live into the new life which comes by grace.  Guide me today to speak the word You would have me speak.  Turn my heart so that it is sensitive to You and others.  Lead me to live out those fruits of the Spirit which You grant so that I may be guided into living in a godly way.  Amen.

“And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

The idea here is not to make you feel so bad, nor be paranoid about talking, but realize that with the power of your ability to communicate, comes great responsibility.  If you let your mouth go free, it will destroy you.  Guard the gift of speech and be a steward of what is spoken.  One word can undo many: spoken in haste, or without regard, the good is replaced with evil, which may set on fire the course of your life.

Lord, help me to take seriously the gift of communication which You have given me.  I can speak and convey good words, but I can also speak badly and do damage.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of life such that I am on guard with what I say.  Help me to know that in You I have hope and there is a future.  In all I say, lead my tongue to speak those things which are pleasing to You and helpful to others.

Lord Jesus, lead me out of the mire of unhelpful words that are all around me that would take my heart away from You.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through and past the hurtful words that get spoken.  Let me not be one of those who speaks these words.  Through all things, lead me by Your grace to become intentional in my speech and uplifting through what I say.  May the truth and grace You give always be on my lips.  Amen.

“See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” (James 3:5)

A match is enough to burn down a forest.  How many fellowships have been destroyed by a careless word here or there?  O, the great destruction that has come because of careless talk.  You do not know who is listening, so always be on your guard with your speech.  Know that the Lord always hears when you talk – whether you want Him to or not.  Knowing such a small thing makes a big difference.

How can we know unless we hear?  How can we hear unless someone speaks?  Know that the world is moved in many directions with such a small thing as the tongue.  You too, in your relationships may influence others, for good or for evil.  Be on your guard less the wicked one trip you up and you feel free to speak things that are better off never having been said.  Words spilled out can never be put to rest.

Lord Jesus, bring me to a place where I am sensitive about my words.  Let me be guarded with my tongue.  Through all things, lead me to know that in You is all hope and a future.  That future includes a place where loose talk will not happen.  And it needs to begin with me.  Lead me Lord so that I would, day by day, be more guarded in the habit of careful speech and live with an attentive attitude toward others.  Amen.