Disordered Desires

“Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions^* that make war within your members?  You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4: 1-3)

Disordered desires are the root cause of lack of contentment, quarrels and ultimately war.  When we covet even a good desire, we cause it to be disordered.   Our desire whether good or bad become disordered when we tenaciously embrace it tightly  in hope or against all hope.  This attachment rouses the passion and causes the passion to make war within us. 

The remedy for disordered desire is detachment.   In prayer, we take our desires to God who alone is giver of all good things.  We come to God in prayer in faith asking the One who is both able and willing to grant us what is good for us.   Because we know that God is both able and willing to give us anything that is good for us, we can wait for whatever we ask for in prayer.  This is why Isaiah teaches that faith that is firm is also patient.

“Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give you support.  He will never allow the righteous to stumble.^”  (Psalm 55:23)

 “I would stay in the desert.^c9“I would soon find a shelter from the raging wind and storm.” (Psalm 55: