Asking God for Our Wants

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, wage war, and argue to get it.

Yet you don't have what you want 
because you do not ask God for it.

James 4:2  

Most of us don't consciously scheme to "kill" or fight to get what we want -or think we want- and don't have in our lives; yet we do fight and wound or even kill relationships with others.  We especially wound ourselves in regards to our relationship with God because we sometimes have the attitude that He is just a big bully in the sky that enjoys inflicting suffering for entertaining Himself.  We think that we are punishing Him in our anger by not talking to Him.  It breaks God's heart of love for us when we turn from Him; but the reality is that we are punishing ourselves by not allowing Him to heal the very wounds we've given to ourselves so we extend our own pain and suffering.  

I recently listened to a Beth Moore study on CD where she points out that the first recorded words of Jesus were: “What do you want?” in John 1:38.  We forget that God does actually want us to come to Him with our desires and that He desires that we would want His will for us because it will ultimately be for our very best life.  

If we will come to Him, He will give us that which we ask of Him; but are we asking for what HE has for us? Are we are choosing to trust, listen, and be obedient to His will for our lives?  Why would He reveal to us when He knows we are still in a toddler-state of "I want what I want and I want it now!"  Therefore, we aren't really going to hear Him nor accept what He wants for us which is so much better than we could imagine.

God wants us to come to Him with our desires, but what are our desires?  Are they desires that honor, fear, and glorify our Holy God?  What we should want to ask for is the great things that God has for us.  Ephesians 3:20 states:  

Now all glory to God, who is able, 
through His mighty power at work within us, 

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

Think about that verse.  God doesn't just do things by Himself, although He could; but rather chooses to include us by working in and through us in ways that are to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  He desires to give us a life that is so much more than what we could even request of Him!  Does that sound like a God who is silent and just gets a kick out of withholding joy from His Children?  

Instead of spending so much time asking for -no, complaining about- what we don't have and think we really "need" or want; perhaps we should spend more time with Him listening to what He wants for us.  If we truly listen with the knowledge that He knows what lies ahead for us; then maybe we would not be so quick to whine, scheme, and kill to get what we want for ourselves.  God longs for us to embrace the perfect plan that He has for each of us.  His plan is not only with our very best in mind, but so much better than the temporary happiness that we are asking for in the moment. 

Here are two final scriptures of encouragement:
  

He grants the desires of those who fear Him; 

He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 145:19 

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

for He speaks peace to His faithful people.

But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Psalm 85:8

May you be encouraged to spend time listening to our Holy, Faithful God that you may start to hear Him and desire what He has for you, knowing it truly is only the very best!

These Dreams

     "No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all the people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants - men and women alike - and they will prophesy.'" - Acts 2:16-18

     Dreams are strange things. Most of the world sees them in one of two extremes: silly or mystical.  One thing is for certain, they are often an interesting topic.  

     I've had quite vivid dreams for as long as I can remember.  The dreams that truly linger in my soul are the ones that feel very real or actually became reality.  Those have ranged from upsetting and disturbing to funny and seemingly unimportant.  I don't know that I have the spiritual gift of prophecy, but I know that God has used dreams as a way to "speak" to me.

     I've had dreams where God was warning me.  I've had dreams where God was preparing my heart.  I've been called to obedience.  I've been called to worship.  I've been called out on sin.  I've been reminded of His unfailing love.  I've had dreams that seemed silly and insignificant, yet became reality after time.  Sometimes that reality was weeks later, and sometimes it was years later.

     Not all of my dreams are intense, of course; but I do wonder at times:  How do I know which dreams are a word from God or not?  Also, how do I handle the disappointment when a dream appeared to be a word from The Lord for me, yet is not appearing to become reality?

     I know I don't have all the answers.  What I do know is this: "'Interpreting dreams is God's business'" (Genesis 40:8b) ... It's a good thing that The Business Owner does have all the answers; and He remains faithful in both my reality and my dreams.  I just need to remember to trust that.