Christian Devotional – April 14, 2025

Go and Do, Day 14

“But I want it!” Read James 4:1-3.

Many a mother has heard that phrase screamed by their toddler when passing through stores. Many a teenager has made this statement. Many an adult has said this in their heart. We want what we want, and we want it now. James wants us to understand that God is the one who supplies all of our needs. We are to come to God when we have things that we need, and God will provide for us.

However, sometimes the things that we ask God for really aren’t things we need. It doesn’t stop us from asking for them, but as James puts it here, sometimes we “ask with wrong motives that we can spend what we get on our pleasures.” We want things that will make us happy instead of seeking out the things that will bring God glory. We want things that will make our life easier instead of seeking out the things which will bring others to him.

We are to pray to God for everything, and God will do great and amazing things through our prayers. But when we don’t receive what we pray for, we must understand that God knows what is best and that we really don’t need what it is that we’ve prayed for. Are we okay with accepting God’s decisions about what we need? Will we trust him to provide for us in the areas that we do need, knowing that He will do for us in his time and in his way?