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DEALING WITH OUR DESIRES

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. – James 4:1-3 (NLT)

            Every human being struggles with the desire to have what is not presently in our possession. What is important to our faith is what we do with that desire. Some will go to the extreme to get what they want, even to the point of hurting or taking the life of another person. Others allow their desires to grow until they erupt in conflict, many times with fellow Christians. The end result is always negative, oftentimes causing irreparable harm to all involved.

            If what we desire is good and wholesome we are to request it from God, not attempt to gain it by means that are not pleasing to Him. If our motivation is ultimately for God’s glory, and our request is within His will, He will grant us our heart’s desire. What can we possibly lose by laying all of our requests before God’s throne prior to taking any action in and of ourselves?

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, grant me purity of motive in all that I request from You.