Sunday August 2.09, I cited the story of a professional baseball player in how we can practically fulfill the teaching of James 1:15:

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

James is not referring to some “rabbit’s-foot” statement we utter any time we are making plans, but a realistic belief that we are not able to control our lives in the way his readers were expressing (“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—” v.13). James is writing to remind the reader of our ignorance of what tomorrow holds (“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring” v.14a) and our fragile state as a created being (“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” v.14b). So, I gave some practical advice on how to avoid the sinful control-mentality that says, “I’m in charge.” There are three ways, (1. to dedicate your plans to God (2. to be aware of God’s presence (3. thank God for the outcome. These three practical steps help insulate us from the sinful tendency to think we are the ones who control the outcome of our plans.

In citing #3. I mentioned a professional baseball player and how he came full circle to thank God for his ability to win the home-run competition at the 2008 All-Star game. The players name is Josh Hamilton and his story is a great example of a person who recognizes that God is the one who is in control and takes the time to thank Him for the outcome.