Spiritual Warfare: 'What Causes Our Fights and Quarrels?'

God's Power for Our Battles — Monday, August 24, 2026

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
— James 4:1-2 NLT

Today's Prayer

Lord, deliver me from all jealousy and evil desires. Free me from the slavery I feel to my own passions and yearnings. Help me to overcome the feelings that deceive me into thinking that I would finally be happy if I got what I wanted. Help me turn my life and my hope and dreams over to Your plans, Lord, because I know You truly know what’s in my best interest. Use me to Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

7 Related Resources by Heartlight

ASK!
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Child of God, James, my half brother, hit the nail on the head when he taught about why My people lack so many of the simplest and yet most..."
SpiritFire: Ask!
Article by Phil Ware
Why do we not ask for something God longs to give? Phil Ware begins a four week challenge that coordinates with the SpiritFire daily devotional challenging us to invite the Holy Spirit into our daily lives.
Humbly Yield Control
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, Yesterday I talked to you about letting the Spirit lead the dance of your life. Today, I want you to notice what happens when a person..."
Teach Us to Pray 09: Recalibrating Need
Article by Phil Ware
Our prayers often treat God as if he is the free Amazon delivery service for our every whim and want. Phil Ware with Andy Johnson remind us that our prayer is for the bread we need today, not the extravagance we want for ourselves.
See All 7 Related Resources about James 4:1-2

Illustration

Illustration of James 4:1-2 NLT — What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, August 24, 2026

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'You Squander It!' (Ac. 7:51-53)
"[In his defense before the Sanhedrin, Stephen said,] "And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Preparing Them in His Moment of Sorrow'
"[To the disciples, Jesus continued,] "I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that...."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Essential Work of the Holy Spirit'
"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Luke 15:2
"Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners-this Man..."

About This Devotional

Spiritual Warfare is a daily devotional about God's power for our battles.

The Prayer for Spiritual Warfare is written by Steve Hemphill.

More Spiritual Warfare