Is Your Wanter Out of Whack?

Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and
more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning
from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then
you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants
instead of being tyrannized by what you want. ~1 Peter 4:1-2 (MSG)



When
it comes right down to it, at times we could all be classified as
spoiled brats. Sin is genetic. It's part of our DNA. We want our own
way, and we want it now. To put it simply--our wanters are out of whack.



I
love how The Message puts these verses in language we can sink our
teeth into. We all suffer disappointments, setbacks, and unfortunate
circumstances. And our typical first response is "Why me?"



How
blessed we are when we reach the point of seeing these disappointments,
setbacks and circumstances for what they truly are--God's way of weaning
us from wanting our own way.

If we truly long to live for Christ,
then we should desire for "us" to be moved out of the way. God can do
that through suffering. Only then will our out-of-whack wanters be
transformed so we seek Him and His way.



Father God,
thank You that in Your infinite wisdom and perfect plan that You
provided a way to remove the tyranny of self. May we learn to see our
difficulties as God-inspired for the purpose of fulfilling Your plans
instead of our own. In Jesus' Name, Amen.