Totally agree…actually was reading about the same thoughts in my travels this month. Don Miller states in his book “Blue Like Jazz”…”Can you imagine if Christians actually believed that God was trying to recue us from the pit of our self-addiction? If we believed the right things, the true things (what the Bible says to do Ephesians 5:9-12 in the Message translation especially) there wouldn’t be very many problems on earth.” (parenthesis are my thoughts)…and again he states, “the trouble with deep belief is that it costs something. And there is something inside of me, some selfish beast of a subtle thing that doesn’t like the truth at all because it carries responsibility, and if I actually believe these things I have to do something about them.”

Lord, help me not be selfish, and actually do something about the truth revealed here. Forgive me for my “self-addiction”

Brent

It is so great to hear your voice even if it is only cyber!

I hadn’t thought of the need vs. want discussion. Imagine how many resources we would have available for God’s kingdom if we applied the same tests to our wants and desires that we apply finding God’s will.

How many times before indulging our wants to we take the stance “I won’t move on this (or indulge my desires) until I hear very clearly that God wants me to.” It is too bad that this prayer seems to be saved for the times when obedience is called for.

I may do a post on this separately … you’ve got me thinking.

Great to hear from u again!
U are missed.

Dale

I would say that hearing God can’t happen w/o motion and that by choosing inactivity we choose to block our ears to what He is saying.

I have been working at starbucks for a week now and my stomach churns every time I hear someone say, “I NEED a…” I just think, “you have no clue what need is, you certainly don’t NEED a $4 coffee beverage…”

I am 100% in agreement with all of you when it comes to praying about God’s will…why do we pray about whether or not we should meet people’s needs, but never whisper a prayer about meeting our wants. It is so backwards!

That article broke my heart…but…I am living in a broken world…I think it just needs to stay broken as long as I am living on earth.

I agree wholeheartedly. Sacrificing our needs and wants and giving to others is central to God’s character. The more we know that the more we know him.