The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Desperate for Change.

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” –James 3:16

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The Bible is so very practical. Since God created and knows us so well, when we read His Word it’s a bit like reading the owner’s manual for humans. His commands and instructions are built on a complete understanding of what works and doesn’t work, both within us and in our relationships with others.

Pray for your fellow intercessor.

James speaks with authority and insight as he points out what will happen to a society or group when people begin to envy each other and to have ambition that puts self ahead of others. The result is a breakdown of society in which you find disorder and all kinds of evil practices. This can and does happen in local churches, social groups, and so forth. as bad as that is, it becomes even more devastating when it happens at a national level.

I watched the news right before writing this devotional. James pegged it! I saw disorder and every evil practice at a national level, and it all goes back to envy and selfish ambition. ultimately, this is a spiritual problem and the only solution is spiritual. America needs Jesus and needs Him badly!

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to reveal if you are holding on to any envy or selfish If so, repent of it now.
• Pray for the salvation of those who are in leadership of our nation.  Ask the Lord to remove all envy and selfish ambition.
• Pray that the church in America will be set free from all envy and selfish ambition.

My Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word that so clearly shows us for who we are and Who You are. Keep me, Lord, from envy and selfish ambition. May Your church be a model to this nation of what it means to live without these horrible sins. I pray today for our national leaders, that every one of them would come to know You, Lord Jesus, as Savior and Lord of their lives. Lord, remove from them the envy and selfish ambition that so easily attaches itself to those in places of political power. Father, we stand against the disorder and evil practices that are increasingly characterizing our land. Bring Your godly peace and righteousness to America!

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David Butts is the chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee and the president of Harvest Prayer Ministries. Photo Credit: PonyWang/Getty Images Signature via Canva Teams.