ROADBLOCKS TO HEALING
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.
James 4:2 (NLT)
Have you asked God about it?
This simple question can make all the difference. We have the tendency to go to anyone and everyone BUT God with our struggles. We may consult with our parents, spouse or best friends when we’re facing a difficult situation or choice. We may create a social media poll inviting feedback from a wider range of folks. But have we asked God about it? Have we gone to our Creator, the Author and Finisher of our faith (see Hebrews 12:2)?
Truth be told, if my child needed something that I could provide but asked everyone but me, I’d be hurt. It would make me think that they either don’t know how deeply I long to provide for them or that they simply don’t think I can or will. No matter the motivation behind their avoidance of their father, it would wound. So why do we do the same to our Heavenly Father? He longs to bless us and demonstrate His goodness in our lives. But we don’t ask Him.
Rather than being consumed by jealousy over what others have, let’s ask God to meet our needs and wants. Social media draws our eyes to images of our friends with seemingly perfect lives—fancy trips, new gadgets, perfect health and all the things we want for ourselves. Let’s first remember that everything we see on social media is carefully curated. Then let’s commit to keeping our eyes on Jesus (again, see Hebrews 12:2).
APPLICATION: Take your needs and wants to God right now. If it’s healing— pray boldly, believing that He can intercede. Let’s take our eyes off the world and fix them firmly on Jesus. Consider listening to any of the many renditions of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus as you commit to focusing on Him.
PRAYER: God, You are Healer and Provider. Help me to come to You first. Give me the courage and faith to ask You for what I need and want. Your grace abounds in my life; help me not to forget. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?