I want to continue my thoughts I started on yesterday’s blog which began with the statement:

The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart.

The word that comes to mind has so many tentacles. It is seen in a sports activity. It is seen in an area of study. It is seen on the news. It is talked about and seen (sadly sometimes) in a love relationship. It is seen in evangelism. It is seen in a person’s everyday tasks. It is seen in preaching. Okay…what is IT?

PASSION

I’m sure you can now see why it has so many tentacles. Let’s look at it another way-one I didn’t mention. James 4:1 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within in?” James is telling us that it is our passions that wage war in our hearts. And while passion can be good (love, sports, work, etc), passion can also cause problems. There is a negative side to passions and James opposes it. Even in the examples I gave (love, sports, etc) the wrong kind of passion can send those emotions through the roof or drive them down the tubes. A passion is a powerful, ruling desire.  But we often allow our passion to be unbridled, or at least, to sidetrack us.

Jesus talked about passion. “Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.” That is the good kind of passion, when my heart is ruled by God’s love and grace. My wants, needs, and feelings are under His command.

“Father, help me to be passionate about You. May You and Your honor be my driving force.”