A pair of 5-year-old boys with a fascination for luxury cars decided to try to buy one—a real one. First, they used small sand spades to dig under the playground fence at the school they attended—burrowing each day until they made their escape. Once free, they walked more than a mile to a car showroom. There, the boys met a woman and told her they wanted to buy a Jaguar—with no money. She took them to the police, who promptly returned them to their parents.
The boys’ single-minded pursuit of what they wanted was unusual for their age. When they could have been playing on a swing or enjoying a game of tag, they were slaving away trying to get somewhere they knew they shouldn’t go. Many of us understand what it feels like to have a desire so strong that we’re compelled to ignore the limits of acceptable behavior.
The Bible advises us to guard ourselves against these types of longings. “The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure . . . for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions” (1 John 2:16). Not surprisingly, our “gotta have it” urges place us at odds with what God wants for us. He points us to the pursuit of holiness, but the world tempts us with gratification at any cost.
One day we’ll be free from the stress of battling our sinful desires. “This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave” (1 John 2:17). For now, however, we can prevail in the struggle through the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. With God’s help, we can reorient ourselves toward the good desires the Holy Spirit places in our hearts. Submitting to the Spirit means “we won’t be doing what [our] sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Romans 12:1-21
More:
Look up 2 Tim. 4:3 to see how following our own desires can affect a person’s understanding of sound doctrine.
Next:
What desires have you been wrestling with? How can you seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in dealing with negative desires?
Gary Shultz on November 23, 2016 at 7:10 am
Hi Jennifer, being human I guess you have found we always have that pull. Like the story of the two tribal men. One was a boy and the other a wise old tribal councilman. The boy asked why he had such a struggle inside of him to do what was right, yet he felt so pulled to do what was not right, it felt like two wolves fought inside of him. He ask how he could win this struggle? The wise old councilman said, the wolf you feed will be the wolf that wins. We have the Spirit and the word of God, we have prayer, and many good avenues to walk in, that will be why we will give an account. What did we do, what did we feed? We even get to ask God’s help in selecting the right steps. As good as that all sounds we are often found digging under the fences. We must recognize our wrong moves before we pick up a shovel and turn our mind to the God who offers strength and help. And keep doing that over and over. Who wants to be the “dirty bird” at Thanksgiving? Thanks Jennifer, may you and yours fully enjoy God’s blessings.
hsnpoor on November 23, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Good story, Gary, and really on point with the message today. I read something recently where the word “discipline” was used twice in one sentence, but didn’t mean the same thing both times. The first time it was used, it spoke to how God disciplines us with corrective action applied from him to us; the 2nd time, though, spoke to how we must discipline ourselves to be open and responsive to God’s disciplinary action, which I think is on point with your point and Jennifer’s. Then again, I could just be chasing turkeys…. Happy Thanksgiving!
jennifer benson schuldt on November 23, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Gary,
Thank you for the story of the wolves. It illustrates the fierceness of the wrestling match that takes place inside all of us at various times. It’s true—the “wolf” we feed will be the one that wins. Last night I was reading something related to this topic. It was about feelings vs. the will. Here’s some of what I read: “I am not wholly free or responsible for my thoughts and feelings, which partly come to me from my heredity and my environment. But I am completely free and responsible for my will’s choices, which come from me. I am not what I think or feel, but I am what I will…what comes into my soul is not necessarily what I will, but what comes out of my soul is precisely what I will.”
As Christians, we are truly free to will ourselves (to choose) to do what is right because, through Christ, we have been set free from the power of sin (Romans 6:17-18)!
godlove on November 23, 2016 at 9:30 am
Unbelievable, the story of those five year olds! That just goes to show how our craving for worldly things is practically in-born. It takes all the help from the Holy Spirit to win the struggle between the opposing desires at war within us: between what we know we should do and what the flesh is inclined to want. Like Gary, said it’s about feeding the right wolf and this can best be done through reading Scripture and prayers.
hsnpoor on November 23, 2016 at 4:09 pm
Amen, godlove! It’s stories like these 2 little boys that make it impossible for me to believe, as so many do, that humans are basically good. Children come into this world innocent, but knowing full well how to do wrong. They have to be taught what is right and how to do it. That reality argues against the notion that people are inherently good, even if one knows nothing of scripture.
jennifer benson schuldt on November 23, 2016 at 4:16 pm
godlove,
Yes, reading and memorizing Scripture makes it possible for God’s Word to occur to us at the moment when temptation is the strongest. It helps us see beyond our feelings and resist the persuasive forces that prod us to sin.
It’s encouraging to note that because the Holy Spirit is living inside us—He is present in the same place where the “battle of the wolves” takes place. He’s there, watching, just waiting for us to ask for help (1 Corinthians 10:13).
sim jing ying on November 23, 2016 at 9:57 am
I have wrestling desires to post things on Facebook which I think might be wrong. I pray everyday for God’s wisdom to be with me forever when I post on Facebook and other situations also.
jennifer benson schuldt on November 23, 2016 at 4:42 pm
sim jing ying, let me pray for you. Dear Father, I come to you for this one who is struggling today. I pray that you would give discernment about what is right and wrong based on the words of Scripture. Let our words always honor You and be acceptable to You. May we submit ourselves to your Spirit and allow Him to guide our thinking and our decisions.
Lately a friend has been sending me links to some worship songs. Here’s one that you may enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TIgfoH_mzk
sim jing ying on November 24, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Thanks so much