James 4:1-3 --- What is causing quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
I know my posts are wordy. Sorry...not sorry?!... LOL. Truly take a minute and read God's word above and below. It's really powerful if you choose to take the time to listen to His words, let Him speak to your heart. Then take this and choose to lay down your strength, your understanding, and let His Spirit fight, there's no limit to what He can do!
In Rocky IV, Ivan Drago was the bad guy, but he had something Apollo didn't when they fought... he had the will to go all the way, with no reserves, no safety net, all in, to the death. That's how I want God's Spirit to be within me against the things I ought not do or think.
Jesus said there will always be troubles as long as we're in this world. I'll make mistakes. I'll mess up.. but I don't have to stay down, and I don't want to get in God's way of making me more like Jesus bit by bit!
After reading James 4:1-3 above, this led to the below summing a lot up. I beg you take the time to read it and let it sink in!
Galatians 5:13-29 -- For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[a] 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Living by the Spirit’s Power 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Now that's something to think about today!
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