The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts?”
Wanting something and not getting it—or even simply fearing that we won’t get it—is the source not only of quarrels and tensions with those around us but also of many of our inner struggles and temptations.
It’s good to perform a self–check when we’re feeling out of sorts, dissatisfied, and fearful.
“What am I wanting that’s causing me to lash out at others?”“Is attempting to attain this desire pushing me toward sinful behavior?”“Can I trust God with this? Is he obligated to provide it, or am I expecting and demanding something he hasn’t promised me?”“Is it right for me to put this expectation on other people in a way that stirs up strife in my relationships, or am I trying to get people to fulfill a desire that isn’t their responsibility?”There are some “wants” we should fight for—justice, respect, love, etc. But even this fighting should have Christ overlayed. It should never be from selfishness, fear, or fleshly pleasure but always trusting God and pursuing truth.
Instead of reacting angrily or manipulating circumstances to get what we want, let’s hold our desires loosely and offer them up to God, setting our minds on things above rather than things on this earth (Colossians 3:2).
Keeping the desires of our flesh from ruling over us and trusting God with them should be part of our behavior as Christians.
This will put us at peace within ourselves and with other people as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18), and it will leave us ready to receive God’s guidance, even when that guidance goes against our desires.
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