Choice

A Note in my Bible for James 4:5 reads, "God jealously longs for the spirit that he made to live in us." There is a constant battle raging within us to live according to a "nature." Romans 8:5 in the NIV reads, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. " It's a choice of natures and each one represents a character. One represents Truth and Life, the other Falsehood and Death. John 1 speaks of the birth of life and light into the world through Jesus. This is the very same light and life that is at work in us trying to overcome the death and darkness that seeks to devour us. God longs for us to live in Truth and experience real life as we choose to deny ourselves and walk in step with the Holy that is at work within us. The voice of God that I hear over and over again through so many different books, songs and sermons is "It's not about you!" Until we take an honest look at and deal with the self-centered, spoiled child within each one us, we will continue to miss the "Promise Land" that God has for each one of us. Our Promise Land is a place we must be lead into, which means we must submit our lives and let God lead through His Holy Spirit.
So which comes first, trust or obedience? Never mind. I'll chase that later.

James 4
4You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. 5And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." 6And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."7So let God work his will in you. (The Message)

Romans 8
5Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them--living and breathing God! (The Message)

John 1
3Everything was created through him;nothing--not one thing!-came into being without him.4What came into existence was Life,and the Life was Light to live by.5The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;the darkness couldn't put it out.(The Message)