READ James 4
While selfishness produces conflict, humility produces submission to God.
 
INSIGHT
Selfishness is the foundation for all conflict. When two hearts want different things - and neither is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the other - conflict arises. Selfishness is the cause of war, crime, and interpersonal conflict. By looking out for ourselves, we think we can get what we want from life. In contrast, the Lord teaches us that humility, not selfishness, results in satisfaction in life. Promote yourself, and wars and conflict result. Even God is against you (v. 6). But live in humility and wars and conflict cease, assuming all parties participate. And the Lord will lift you up.
 
PRAYER
Praise the Lord because He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble:
Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord!  
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before him with joyful songs.  
Acknowledge that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we are his —
His people, the sheep of his pasture.  
Enter his gates with thanksgiving  
And his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name
(Psalm 100:1-4).
 
Pause for praise and thanksgiving as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
 
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry,   and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again (John 6:35).
 
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Greater faithfulness with your time
• The president and national affairs
• Your activities for the day

 
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21).