Fleshly Desires or Spiritual Desires?...My will or God's will?

Thursday:

James 4:1-17

Good Morning! I have been so richly blessed, encouraged, and uplifted this week by the scriptures and by reading how God is working and speaking in our lives. Thank You!

I see this morning that when I want those things I cannot have, my fleshly desires are taking over. Galatians 5:17-18 tell me that the flesh will lust against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. So I know that my “fleshly” desires are going to be opposite my spiritual desires, and my spiritual desires will be opposite my fleshly desires. So, I have a choice, I can be a friend of the world and chase after these fleshly desires, or I can be a friend of God and satisfy my spiritual desires. – I do believe we need to show Christ’s love to others, but there is a difference in doing that and “friendship with the world”. A friendship with the world would have a deeper attachment; you would be choosing the world and things of the world over Christ. James (the writer of this book) was martyred because he would not renounce Christ. Could I say I would give my life for Christ? Would I be willing to be killed for Christ? I might say sure, of course I would, do I really mean it? Are there other things in my life that I won’t give up for Christ? Are there fleshly desires that I won’t give up to be closer to God? A tv show that I watch instead of spending a few extra minutes in His Word? Or a shopping trip instead of donating that money to a family that may be struggling to make ends meet (I really like to shop and spend money, I struggle here). God gives us ‘more grace’ (v.6), so that we can resist the desires of the flesh. His grace is greater than my sin; greater than the world. (reminds me of the Point of Grace song – “There is Nothing Greater Than Grace”). 

Then I see in v. 13-17, that James talks about our plans. I am a BIG planner, dreamer, and controller…. Are my plans in line with the will of God? Am I making plans before going to God? I need to not plan that I will go here, and make this money, and do this or that. Instead, I need to ask God what He wants me to be doing. Where HE wants me. And let me go one step further (based on a phone conversation with a close friend yesterday – she reminded me of this) – that we need to be WILLING to submit to that WILL of God. I might say, "whatever your will is God". But do I really mean it? I am reminded that my life is but a vapor, that is here one minute and gone the next. Do I want to spend my time seeking after my will, or after God’s will? Do I want to spend my time satisfying my fleshly desires or my spiritual desires? If I surrender to God’s will, have I fully surrendered? Or am I still hanging on to a piece? God can’t use me in the way that He wills if I am still in the driver’s seat. I would even say this – (because I know I am a controller) – Maybe I am not in the driver’s seat, and God is, but am I being a backseat driver? Still saying, "no no no go here, turn there…." I do not know the plans He has for me, and what if He had something much greater in mind? But I wanted to turn left instead of going straight like He wanted? I don’t want to limit God and the possibilities He has for my life, my family, friends, and everyone I can reach for Him… 

Dear Lord,
Thank you for this reminder this morning, to give you control of my life. Thank you for the reminders all week, and the encouragement/support. Thank you for blessing us. Please make this what you would have it to be, and let your will be accomplished. 
Amen