D.V.

 

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” - James 4:13-15

 

We can get awfully presumptive in our lives and awfully certain of our plans without ever thinking about what God wants.

 

Years ago when events were planned and events announced there would always be the letter D.V. included in the notice. This Latin abbreviation stands for Deo volente and means God willing. There was more of a reliance and dependence on what God wanted. Not only have we taken that idea off of our notices and flyers and invitations and such, it seems to a large extent we have taken it out of our lives.

 

Putting DV eventually became more of a custom than a statement of fact, but the reality of DV is something that should be a part of everything that the Christian plans, and not just a cursory acknowledgement of God. I, for my own sake, try to say something like ‘please God’ or ‘God willing' or ‘Lord willing’ when announcing church plans or when I am going to meet someone or any kind of plans I am making.

 

That means that I need to be willing to change my plans to fit God’s plans. He can change circumstances to change my plans to His. 

 

See you tomorrow God willing.