Passions

James 4:1

What causes quarrels and fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

As usual Satan has taken the word passion [passions] and has turned it into a good thing. What better than to have passion or to be passionate about something? Definitely a trait highly touted today. But in Scriptures passion [passions] always refers to something sinful. It speaks of out of control fleshly desires that war within our souls. We want and don't have. We ask but ask wrongly spending it on our passions. It is as if we can't see the root cause of our sin or the root cause of our desires. We are blinded by our passions.

How do these passions get so out-of-control? James offers this idea. Friendship with the world. When we are friends with the world, we are enemies with God. Not good! God has given us a strong hint when He said that he was and is jealous over His Spirit that lives within us. He doesn't want His Spirit inundated with our filthy passions and sin. Instead of being constantly in a state of failure and sin, He offers us His grace. Grace that will fortify and strengthen. Grace that will conquer and control, yes, even our willful passions. 

But the catch is this. God opposes the proud but gives His grace to the humble. If we think, we can control our passions by ourselves, that is pride. If we think, it is useless because we are too far gone, that is pride as well. Pride cancels out grace! We need to submit ourselves to God acknowledging our pride and sin and then resist the devil. If we resist, he will flee. He knows the battles has already been won. He knows he is defeated. Apparently, the only ones who don't live in that reality is us! So the conclusion is cleansing and confessing, mourning and weeping over sin, rejoicing and singing over victory. I need to humble myself before the Lord, and He will exalt me because He will be exalting Himself and all He has done in my life!

Father,

What a glorious gift is Your grace! How truly amazing! I confess my great wealth of passion. It seems to be constantly overflowing. I ask for your forgiveness humbly. I ask Your forgiveness for exposing Your Spirit to so much sin. Forgive. Strengthen me in Your grace. Help me live in You. 

In Jesus name,

Amen