¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. ¹⁵Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

4:1Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? ²You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• Follow the breath throughout your body.
• Scan your body as you go along.
• Notice a place or places where there is war or conflict.
• Stop at this/these place(s).
• What is the conflict?
• Notice what is of God.
• Notice what is not of God.
• Allow that which is God to grow.
• Let go of that which is not God.  If you find resistance, ask for God’s strength and help.
• Exhale that which is not God.
• Feel yourself drawing nearer to God.
• Continue this exercise as you scan your body.
• Submit yourself fully to God, as fully as you possibly can at this moment.
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.