Survival and Pride, Prayer and Fasting

In a facebook conversation yesterday, I said to a friend, “people are far less driven by their conscience than they are by their survival instincts and pride.”

It is true. It is true about me, and it is true about you. It is one of the reasons all humans need “religion” - to train themselves to develop and follow a true conscience. Lose that training, you risk losing your conscience, your compass, and falling victim to your most base instincts.

Of course, I believe my faith, Christianity, isn’t just any “religion”. The core of our faith is the need to recognize that we are always falling prey to our instinctual, selfish, pride-filled side.

1 Corinthians 10:13 tell us:  "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

It is our own desire to do evil, it is deep within us. We don’t need to judge others, we need only look at ourselves to understand why we need our faith

James 1:12-16 follows: "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers."

We talked earlier this week about fasting. And how it should be as common in our life as prayer. We need them both, and with the aid of grace and the comforter, the holy spirit, we can root out the desires of our soul that leads to suffering and death, and replace them with a divine conscience that guides us to peace.