“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” James 4:13–14 NIV.

Don’t you know many people that talk like that? They plan so confidently for this year, next year, where they’ll do business, where they will invest their money, where they will take their vacation, how long they will spend here and there. And many times they are planning for many years ahead for their retirement and where they’ll spend their retirement. But they have left out of account the fact that they don’t control that.

This word says you are just a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. How foolish for a mist to make plans like that! What’s the solution? It goes on: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

A mist does not have control of where it goes. If the sun arises, it will just be dissipated. If the wind blows, it will be carried away. You see, you are totally dependent on God for every breath you breathe, for every step you take. Don’t plan without God in your life. Don’t be so foolish. Just humble yourself for a moment and recognize that’s what you are. You’re just a mist, hanging for few brief moments in the vapor, and then you’re gong to be dissipated and carried away.

Take God into account. Make your plans with God in mind, and God will see to it that your plans stand and prosper.

— Derek Prince

To listen to Derek’s original audio on our website click here.

Materials used by kind permission of Derek Prince Ministries.