What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (Jam. 4:1). The desires that lead us into conflict and destroy our relationships with God and one another are “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). We have an attitude of entitlement that our needs, expectations, and even perceptions must be as we see and desire them. We get angry, blame, or fight whoever we perceive is the blocker of our entitlements. Even God is not spared as we accuse Him of not answering our selfish prayers, which seek things to be consumed for our pleasure. If I fail to pray to God about the things I desire or receive a NO answer and yet refuse to give up those desires, then I have declared my friendship with the world and hatred toward God. Even when we pray what we believe is God’s will, let us allow Him to examine our motives and be humble enough to accept His verdict. That is the sure way to receive good things and blessings from the Lord.
