July 25, 2023 - James‬ ‭4:4-5‬

“You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.” James 4:4-5 MSG

Lord, we don’t want to cheat on you. We want to be faithful lovers who would never choose anything that would bring pain to you. Let us run from the world and its ways. Help us fall so in love with you that we are not even tempted to flirt with the world’s ways. Let it not be appealing to us anymore. Let us have eyes and hearts only for you.

We just want all that you have for us, Lord. We recognize that your ways are so much better than anything that the world has to offer us. Saying “no” to the temptations of the world should not even be an issue. The tradeoff to what we get with you is so much better. Help us remember that when we are tempted by the world. When our flesh cries out and our selfishness wants to win. We thank you that you give us the power to overcome. We thank you that the more of your love we experience the less of the world that we want. Draw us closer still and allow us to know more of your love every day. Help us learn to love you back in the way that you love us.

We thank you, Father, for how you love us. What an honor it is to be loved so perfectly by you. Thank you that your ways are so much better than the ways of the world. How amazing you are. It is such an honor to choose to live for you.

In Jesus name, amen.