26 Mar Do you argue with your parents?
Annie: “Why do you get into arguments with your parents?”
6th Grade Girl: “They just don’t understand the issue.”
Annie: “Is it because you are not getting what you want?”
6th Grade Girl: “Maybe. (Pause.) Maybe we are angry and upset that we are not getting our way so we cover up with the words: ‘You just don’t understand.'”
What wisdom! What insight!
For ALL of us.
The next time you use the words, “You just don’t understand,” check your selfishness. Check your motives. Are you really just upset you didn’t get YOUR way?
SELFISHNESS is the gas that fuels jealousy. And jealousy is the gas that fuels quarrelling and fighting. We have learned in James that what goes on in the inside will be reflected on the outside.
The desires of our hearts will overflow into our everyday lives. If we are self-centered and judgmental, we will reflect favoritism, actions without faith, anger, and a sour tongue. If we are
God-centered, we will reflect joy, mercy, loving others as ourselves, peace, righteousness, and godly wisdom. Evil desires are just that ~ EVIL. Quarrelling and fighting are NEON signs of the selfishness growing in our hearts. When our desire to WANT something overrides our desire to wait and listen for God’s direction, we should expect quarrelling and fighting. WHY? Because when our goal is to GET WHAT we WANT when we WANT, God is out of the equation. We are operating in selfish motivation. God wants us to make decisions that will reflect His character, but He will never MAKE us. The choice is ours. We have the freedom to choose which hood to look under ~ the hood of earthly wisdom or the hood of godly wisdom. I pray you choose God’s.
Adapted from James: Following God’s Road Signs for Preteen Girls
Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
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. 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 4:1-3 New Living Translation
Click HERE FREE DOWNLOAD of LESSON 19: Following God’s Road Signs for Preteen Girls
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