Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
James 4:1
James asks a thought-provoking question that invites us to consider the root cause of the conflicts that arise in our lives. He declares the source is the internal battle within ourselves—the war of self-pleasure.
James says that our external conflicts are merely reflections of the battles that are raging within our hearts. At this point we need to stop and ask ourselves two questions.
- Are our desires rooted in self-seeking motives, seeking to gratify our own desires without considering the well-being of others?
- Are our desires rooted in love, seeking to honor God and serve others?
We must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts. When we choose to seek God’s will and align our desires with His, our conflicts will diminish.
Today’s verse is challenging us to examine our hearts and surrender our passions to God. As we yield to His guidance, we will experience His peace that surpasses all understanding and witness the transformation of our relationships for His glory.
Pray
Lord, help me to recognize the passions I have in my heart that are not surrendered to Your will. Give me strength to overcome the battles that I’m facing and wisdom to pursue unity with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
