selfish desires

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Deuteronomy 12:8 Not Doing As You Want

You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit, Deuteronomy 12:15

Freedom is something that most people desire or live for. They want the freedom to be able to make their own choices to do or say what they want, without any negative consequences.

Rules are always acceptable for ‘the other person’, but not for self. People will quickly come up with every reason under the sun as to why a particular rule should not apply to them. No one wants to be in trouble, nor have their freedom infringed upon.

Moses told the Israelites that they are not to do as they were currently doing, everyone doing as they desire or see fit to do.

While freedom is good, absolute freedom will always fall into utter chaos. Satan worked to get Adam and Eve to demand absolute freedom, which led to sin, death and being kicked out of the Garden of Eden. He is the author of chaos and death–absolute freedom to do what one wants.

All over America people are constantly, more and more, standing up for the freedom to do what they want, regardless of any rules. Being able to choose one’s own gender, who one lives with, whether a child should live or die, what drugs one desires, and much more are being demanded more and more. People want to do as they see fit.

As with the Israelites, believers should not live as the world does. Everything that a believer thinks, says or does should be governed by God’s word and His Holy Spirit.

God is a God of order, not chaos. He puts down rules for the protection and life of His people, not to destroy them or hold them back in bondage to death. Jesus died to give freedom to live for God, not for self and death.

No matter what nation you live in or what government you live under, you are under God’s rules, if you consider yourself a believer. Do not allow yourself to be corrupted by the ways of the world in doing as you see fit.

Follow God’s ways and rules that will lead to life, eternal life. Use the freedom you have been given to live for God, not self and death. Do only what God wants you to do. In the end it will bring you eternal life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God wants you to do; that God will strengthen you to resist the selfish ways of this world; that you will only do what God wants you to do; and that God will use you to build His kingdom.

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2 Chronicles 1:7 Asking God

Earth from space station

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 2 Chronicles 1:7 

Most people would like a blank check given to them to get whatever they want. They want to be able to write in the amount they want and know that it will be given. They dream of the genie in the bottle to grant their very wishes and desires.

God had did this very thing to Solomon. He appears to him and tells Solomon that he can ask for whatever he wants and he will be given it. It was a blank check given by God, Himself.

Many believers have read this passage and often dreamed of God doing this for them. Often this is done out of personal greed, desiring things for self, and not for the greater good.

Yet, many people forget that Jesus had made this same type of statement several thousand years later. He had stated that whatever one asks in His name, it would be given. This is a type of blank check.

God could see Solomon’s heart at the time He made the offer. He knew that Solomon would make a good choice. Solomon did not make a selfish choice for his own benefit, but one that would benefit the people as a nation.

God is always willing to grant requests when it lines up with His will and mission. His will that no one will die and His mission is to save every person. When requests are made with His will and mission in mind, God is more than willing to grant the request. These requests are not selfish or sinful in any way, they are made to God’s glory and kingdom.

Jesus has made this statement to you also. You can go before God and make your requests known to Him. As you go before Him with a request, take a moment to think about your request. Does your request line up with God’s will and mission? Or does it line up with personal greed and desire?

Go through the Bible and learn what God’s heart is about. What is His desire for you and all believers? Align your life and heart to that of God’s and you will ask things of God that line up with His desires. Then ask God and see how God works great things in and through you to build His kingdom.

I pray today that you will know God’s mission for you; that you will have a heart after God’s heart; that you will put God’s desires first in your life; and that you will see God’s hand at work in your life to build His kingdom. 

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1 King 3:5 A Free Ticket To Ask

Antique oil lamp

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God asked, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 1 Kings 3:5 

One of the wishes of many people would be able to ask someone or something for anything that they want and that they will get it. Many stories of have been written over the years of people finding a magic lamp with a genie in it. The genie comes out and offers three wishes to the owner of the lamp.

Some of the owners struggle as to what to ask for, wanting only to get the best thing possible, not wanting to waste a wish. In the process of asking, sometimes the owner likes what he has been given and other times regrets what he was given. The genie gives the request whether it is really a good one or not.

Although genies are not real, God is. Once Solomon had become king of Israel, God came to him one night and allowed him to ask for whatever he wants, and God would give it to him. With some thought, Solomon chose to ask for God’s wisdom in his life.

Over the years since that time, many people have desired God to ask them that same question. They want God to give them the same proposal to ask whatever they want of Him. Most are forgetting that Jesus had said the same thing. He had stated that those who believe in Him could ask of anything according to His will and they would get it.

That request to ask for anything has never been changed or rescinded. God still loves to give His people what they ask for. However, the question is what will people ask for?

Often people ask for wealth or things to benefit themselves. It is all about self, rather than God and His kingdom.

Believers are to be focused on God and building His kingdom first and foremost. The things that they need to ask for should be to that effort.

You have the opportunity to ask God for whatever you want. What is your heart’s desire to have?

Solomon chose wisdom. It was about serving God and the kingdom God had given him. What will your choice be?

Will it be like the majority of the world, something for self?

Or will it be something to honor God and build His kingdom?

Ask God today. He is waiting.

I pray today that you will know God’s heart; that you will know what God wants of you; that you will seek God’s desires for your life; and that you will believe God only gives what is best for you and His kingdom.