Drawing Close to God

"What is causing the 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." (James 4:1-3 NLT) These conflicts among us result from evil desires battling within us. We want more possessions, more money, higher status, more recognition. When we don’t get what we want, we scheme to get it. This can lead to bitterness and hatred.  Instead of pursuing what we want, we should submit ourselves to God, asking Him to help us get rid of our selfish desires. Trust Him to give you what you really need.

The most common problems in prayer, not asking, asking for the wrong things, and asking for the wrong reasons. Your prayers will become powerful when you allow God to change your desires so that they correspond to His will for you.

“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” (1 John 3:21-22 NLT).  If your conscience is clear, you can come to God without fear, confident that He will hear your requests.  Of course, this does not mean that you can have anything you want. If you are truly searching for God’s will, there are some requests you will not make. There isn’t anything wrong with wanting a pleasurable life. God gives us good things that He wants us to enjoy. Pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful, pleasure from God’s rich bounty is good.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the good things You have provided for each and everyone one of us.  Thank You for healing us from illnesses, addictions, financial burdens, and any other conflict we may be suffering.  We praise You Father and we Thank You so much for guiding us and watching over us and protecting us.  We love You Lord.  Please continue to grow our church family and continue to open the hearts of more people so they can accept You Lord and learn how great You are.  Protect us and bless our families and our pastor Lord.  Help us grow stronger in love and unity as we build a stronger foundation in your word.  We ask you this Father, in the name of Jesus, Amen.