We have a war around us because of the desires within us. When we leave these desires not dealt with they can lead to death. These desires keep us from relationships with others, but more importantly our relationship with God.

James 4:2 MSG Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

James called out 3 desires we need to deal with.

The Desire for control

In our time of need we often take matters into our own hands, instead of going to prayer. We think we can fill the gap rather than taking it to Him. Then we start turning to things to help rather than to Him.

God is EVERYTHING in our time of need but we have to go to Him. We try to open doors in our own strength and then keep them open, but we can’t sustain it. When we relinquish control, His worst way is better than our best way.

When we try to control we covet. Covet means to want something that is not ours. Our envy and jealousy kills us. We fall into the comparison trap. This will lead us to ignore God and the goodness He is doing in our own lives.

God needs us to be who He has called us to be and we can only do that by focusing on Him. We don’t want to miss out on the purpose he has placed on us.

Romans 8:5-8 MSG Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
The Desire for pleasures
James 4:3 NIV When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Hedonism is setting a goal to have your pleasures fulfilled. When we do this we start making an idol of things and people. This will rob us of the life we are called to live.

Titus 3:3 NIV At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

God created us with the innate desire to have pleasure, but not so that it has a hold on us. Pleasure cannot become the source of anything for us. We must ask, do I have control over this? Or does this have control over me? This is a healthy filter to live with.

We must chase God not desires. What are the desires in your life that are creating a war within?

James 4:4-6 NIV You adulterous people,don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

We are adulterous because we claim to be married to God but still flirt with things of the world. We have to choose one. We cannot have ways of the world and the ways of God.

Galatian 5:22-23 MSG But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

The desire we feed the most is the one that is winning.

James 4:7-10 MSG So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

We must submit to God and then we will align ourselves with God.

We do this by:
Go to God - Come to church and get involved, Resist the devil - 1 Peter 5:8 NIV Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. In Matthew 4 He completes the fast and the devil tries to get Him. Jesus uses the sword of scripture. Satan flees - Psalm 100:10 His word is in our heart
Confess and repent - 1 John 1:9 - conviction isn’t about condemning us but to shape us
Receive Gods help - James 4:10 - we must humble ourselves to receive His help to transform us