BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR . . .

I asked God to speak to me and teach me something today, something of Himself, something of how He wanted me to be and what He wanted for my life. And this is what He said:

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. ... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
...
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
...
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. ... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

-- James 2:22, 24; 3:3-10, 13-18; 4:7-8, 10

So basically, He taught me that I have to:

* Have my deeds represent my faith
* Tame my tongue and watch what I say
* Be humble
* Love peace
* Be considerate
* Be submissive
* Be full of mercy and goodness
* Be impartial
* Be sincere
* Make peace
* Submit myself to God
* Resist the devil
* Draw near to God
* Humble myself before Him

Ay caramba. I have a lot of work to do.