Your “Why” Matters
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today to give you thanks and to seek you. We thank you for all that you’ve done for us and provided for us. This morning as we read and study your word, please help our understanding. We love you and praise you.
READ:
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3
“ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 4:14-15 (NIV)
REFLECT:
The most beautiful description of marriage I’ve ever heard is that the union is “saying yes to God’s yes.” But aligning our desires with what God has planned is not unique to marriage alone. It’s the same for our prayer life.
James is reminding us that our motives must line up with God’s plan in order for the prayer to be answered affirmatively. John goes further and tells us if we ask according to God’s will, we can then approach God confidently. If what we are asking is according to God’s will, we know he will hear us.
APPLY:
Consider this caution from Psalms 66:18 – “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” When talking with God, your motives must line up with him, not our own sinful, selfish, misguided desires.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for guiding us in seeking your will. Let us not be deceived by our own desires. Lord, your will be done. Forgive us our sins and strengthen us for the day ahead. Amen.