Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. Unfaithful people! Don’t you know that to be the world’s friend means to be God’s enemy? Whoever wants to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. Don’t think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God places in us is filled with fierce desires." But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

God gives us more grace – more than anything we will ever find on our own. You are not unloved. God loves you, and He loves you unconditionally. When you know and experience God’s unconditional love, you can then give yourself to others – even those who have caused you great pain.

Allow God by His grace to work through your heartache, to control your intentions and desires. Allow Him to draw you in His direction and hold you with His affection, molding you to His perfect design. There is no greater love!

No one is beyond the reach of God’s love.

Our Daily Bread – October 4, 2002