But He Gives More Grace...

As I read through the first several verses of James 4, I confess, I began to feel a little uneasy...especially when I reached verse 3. 

Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

For a minute or two I felt bombarded by my sin, my lack of prayer and mental lists of what I was or was not doing.  I started down  “Should” Road”.  The road that constantly questions what “I should” be doing and what I “should”not be doing or worse, what I am doing, but not doing correctly.  But then there was...

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?—James 4:5

This verse was a balm to my anxious heart this morning.  I am so grateful that the Spirit of God who dwells in me, yearns jealously for me to have a single minded devotion to God.  The Spirit of Truth is on my side and He desires for me only that which is good.  My heart’s cry is the same...I want to please God with everything that is in me...I want His will and His will alone in my life. And if that is my desire, the Spirit of God will get me there, despite me. 

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

This same Spirit who yearns jealously for me and convicts my heart when I am not faithful, is the same Spirit to whom I can cry out to for grace to help in my time of need in order that I can serve Him acceptably.   I can humbly draw near to the One who gives more grace and submit to Him with full assurance that His will for me is perfect.  He has my best interests at heart.  As I pray, He will align my will with His.  He will make His desires my desires. I am weak, but He is strong. I CAN rest and allow His Holy Spirit to do that good work in my heart as I seek Him.  

But I have trusted in Your mercy;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me.—Psalm 13:5-6