More of James

I want so many things. I want a brand new Jeep Rubicon and really long hair right now, I want  to graduate college just a few years early and to be able to run forever and not get winded, so many really important things. So, why don't I have them? Well, aside from being just short of impossible, I don't really pray for these things; they all just seem a little petty. Plus, I pray for so many actually important things and I don't get those! It seems like God tells us that if we ask, we shall receive. I'm askin', but I'm not receivin'! It's a little discouraging. So many people wonder why God doesn't answer their prayers. I always chalked it up to timing. Maybe God doesn't want me to have what I've been asking for right now. He does know best.

I was reading James a few days ago and I came across a verse that really hit a nerve: "You don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong- you want only what will give you pleasure" (James 4:3). I was so amazed at how eerily accurate that verse is. I was so impressed by it, I not only underlined, I drew a little line to the margins and wrote "ME!". So often I ask God to get me through the day without having to do this or see that person. I'm not focused on what God wants me to do; I'm just worried about doing what I want to do and not being bothered when I'm doing it. I lose sight of the important things, I don't have God's will on my mind and I certainly don't want to be bothered at 4:55 pm on Friday to do what God wants me to do. I've realized that it's hard to be focused on God when you're too busy worrying about yourself.