THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 - THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

 THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 - THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

For the past three days, I’ve talked theology - that borders on the “Prosperity Gospel”.  “He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4

I have taken many scriptures out of context and passed them on - such as:

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”  3 John 1:2

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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Well, let’s see some other verses.  “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

“ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” I Timothy 6:10

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2-3

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18

“Now to him who can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16b

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

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My perspective.  Many of the verses above come from Paul’s letters.  I am a little suspicious of those letters for these verses (which I consider being cultural), as Paul (unmarried) gives his views of women.

(Long - excuse me - Paul's view of women in worship)

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.  Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but a woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.  It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.  I Corinthians 11

And

"Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." 1 Corinthians 14

Or this

But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety.  1 Timothy 2:15

BUT, GOD loves us - right

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Everything is for my good!!  (Including humility, suffering, and even childbirth?)

Humility?  (Do I have to God?)

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

I have quoted Micah 6:8 in the past: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

So, my take - is that God does love me and hears me, and does give me the desires of my heart, does meet my needs according to his riches in Glory, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Yes, I do have to ask.  

God is infinite and I am not.  Will he give me money just because he wants me to be rich?  Probably not.  His verses say he wants me to prosper and be in good health.  

But, I tend to think that James 2 verse 3 might be the most appropriate.  “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

And, if God has blessed people with many good gifts - am I to envy them?  (No way!!!)

So, who am I to tell God what to do?  I am to love Him (Her, It) and I am to love one another.  

Love justice, show mercy, and be humble!!

LOVE WINS!!!