James 4:1-2
Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won’t get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In one of her workout videos, trainer Jillian Michaels points to the rock-hard abs of one of her models and says, “I would do just about anything to get abs like these.” Serious athletes and trainers like Michaels are probably willing to put in the necessary hours of work and make dietary sacrifices to achieve such a look. Most of us are willing to settle for something less… or we desire this effect but are unwilling to put in the necessary work to achieve it. In fact, we are drawn like moths to a flame when we see ads for “10-minute Workouts” or “Ripped in 30”… or those "weight loss centers" where you can lose several inches and clothing sizes in an hour. Whether we are willing to practically “kill” for the results we desire… or we want them handed to us… we often lack peace about our situation. We are frustrated, stressed, and often express our feelings via arguments and outbursts. In the words of author Lysa TerKeurst… we “come unglued!”
Still others spend hours/days/weeks seeking a solution to their problems via life coaches, relationship experts, and “spiritual mentors” who write books, produce tapes and create programs designed to help us become rich, prosperous, and discover the secret to finding happiness. One of the most popular of late has involved letting us in on “The Secret!” I almost cringe every time I hear this phrase. It reminds me of an old spiritual song, “There Is No Secret What God Can Do”!
To me, this is the great part of my relationship with Jesus Christ… there are no secrets! The Bible clearly tells us what God has done for us… what He is doing for us each day… and what He will do for us into Eternity. Our role is precisely detailed… love God with all of our heart… love others as we love ourselves… and “go and make disciples” – or share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others. Fighting and arguing accomplish none of this. Looking for a “quick fix” doesn’t work… and frankly, neither does pinning all of our hopes and dreams on some “guru” who is going to give us the “magic bullet” for turning our life around!
During Vacation Bible School, I talked to the children about hearing from God. Some said they had never “heard” from Him. So I asked… “When you talk to your mom or dad about a problem, and they give you a good solution… where do you think they got it? When you read your Bible and search for answers, and you find just what you needed… how do you suppose that happened?” You could see the “light bulbs” going on all across the room as children realized that God is at work answering us and helping us to get what we need… and He uses many tools to deliver His message. Notice, though, that I said He gives us what we need… and this is very different from what we may want!
You may think that you can only find peace and joy if you are rich, thin, pretty, famous, athletic, artistic, talented, popular – you fill in the blanks. But God sees us in a completely different way than we often see ourselves. His plans for us – which are perfect – may not be what we had in mind. But if we will listen and pay attention, God will show us how to find happiness and peace in HIS will. This means that we may not have as much money or material wealth as we had hoped… we may always have that extra bump or bulge we can’t quite shed… we may not be able to run a marathon or win a beauty contest… and we certainly may not be the next American Idol! But we will be the person God designed us to be… we will be His masterpiece. And if we operate out of a desire to serve Him with our whole heart, we will have joy and peace beyond anything we could ever have imagined.
What are your heart’s desires? What are you doing to get them? Isn’t it time you stopped and spent some time in prayer… asked God what HE wants for you? It truly is no secret what God can do in your life… if only you will ask Him and submit to His will. Aren’t you ready to operate in His complete peace? Have you prayed for it lately?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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