Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world.
Love for things, especially temporary ones, can sure get us into trouble. We can begin to assume that these worldly things will make us happy or fill the empty places in our souls. These assumptions soon become cravings. Acting on these lusts, cravings, and pride then drives, enslaves, and addicts us. Not only do these false allures from the evil one leave us unfulfilled, but they also lead us away from the
Lord and the life he longs to share with us (
John 1:4,
10:10). Only when we truly place our hopes and yearnings in our Abba Father, seeking to know and experience him in our lives, do we find truly satisfying and lasting life (
John 17:3).
Please give me wisdom, righteous Father, to see beyond the evil one's false advertising - his mirages of life that entrap and enslave us. I ask for the Spirit's help to fully invest in you and what truly matters. I confess to you that my eyes and my heart are often distracted by the glitzy, temporary "stuff" that appeals to my fleshly cravings, selfish lusts, and egotistical pride. Please stir my heart to yearn for you - to find lasting life in Jesus as the Holy Spirit empowers me to know and experience you. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray and turn my heart fully toward you. Amen.
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