Our relationship with God should be the cornerstone of our existence. We must live with the awareness that everything we have, do, and say is for God and because of His grace. Our lives should reflect that they are a divine gift. Living this way will undoubtedly bring the joy of the Lord.

However, there is an enemy that seeks to distort, steal, and corrupt all the gifts God has given us. Who is this enemy? It is the monster inside of us all, our fleshly nature.

I had a friend who once wanted a bigger car because his family had grown, and he hoped to take them on trips and outings. He prayed to God for a particular car he saw at a dealership, wishing he could someday afford it. One day, he found a used car in excellent condition, still expensive but closer to his price range, so he bought it. He was thrilled with his new car and took great care of it.

However, he soon became overly protective of the car, frequently yelling at his family for any minor mishap that might damage it. He would park miles away from their destination to avoid door dents, forcing his family to walk a great distance. When his wife inquired about the promised trips, he refused, insisting they did not respect the car enough. The family started to resent his new car and his attitude, feeling that the car had become more important to him than they were.

This man began to see the car as his and something that made him happy and gave him esteem. This automobile went from being a gift from God to a need, something he could not live without, even at the cost of what was important. A piece of metal that would one day rust and stop running had become something to sustain his life. This man had lost sight of what mattered the most.

God has blessed us with the gift of life and many blessings, but our inner monster, the flesh, seeks to take these gifts and use them for its selfish purposes. The monster/flesh wants to use it to use it to feel better about itself. He wants to fill the void left by God, to try and feel loved, esteemed, and happy. And when he does this, these gifts become his possessions, a need, a tool for purposes.

When satan took everything from Job, Job stated, "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me." Job had feared because God's gifts became his possession and a need. We should never fear losing anything as long as we have God. Why have fear that brings worry?

Our flesh longs to be like Satan, self-dependant, but there is a war, a struggle because God is trying to shock our spirit back to life. God has left us reminders in all of creation to Him. Every time we long for love, truth, and meaning, it is longing to come back to life with God.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~ Romans 15:13