Haves and Have Nots 152

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
James 4:1-10

This morning I am reminded here of what causes strife and discord...we do!
The enemy wants us to be self-absorbed, instead of Jesus-absorbed.
Our natural fleshly desires are self seeking and without submission to God,
quarrels and discord are inevitable.
But, oh the changes that are wrought when our hearts are thrown wide open and the "God shaped vacuum is filled with the Holy Spirit! Really the difference between night and day. The Word says that God is jealous, and one of His names is Jealousy.   
Let that sink in!
He is jealous for us. He wants us-every fiber of what and who we are.
When we are totally surrendered to Him we submit ourselves totally, not half-heartedly, we are not thinking of ourselves. What happens when our hearts, minds, bodies, spirits, and souls are submitted to our Master? He meets us right where we are.
The Word says that "God will not leave the righteous forsaken, or begging bread".
If He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the field then He will be faithful to take care of us, so we do not need to strive, covet, quarrel, or steal.
Trust in God alone, whose lovingkindness endures for ever.
Do not trust in things or world systems which will fail.
Today beloved seek the Lord while He may yet be found!