Prayer Motives

“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 NIV

God wants to bless our lives and then watch us bless other people’s lives with the same benefits He gives to us. In fact, one condition for answered prayer is a willingness to use God’s blessings to help those less fortunate.

Proverbs 21:13 says, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”. God is saying that, if we ignore those around us who are in obvious difficulty, it doesn’t make sense to expect Him to bail us out of our own difficulties.

God wants us to be like Him, and God is Love. One of the ways we prove we have love is that we’re willing to be generous toward other people. The principle of stewardship is repeated throughout Scripture: God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to other people.

For instance, we might ask God for good health, but what are we going to do with that healthy body after we’ve gotten it? Are we praying just to help ourselves, or are we praying so we can help other people too? When we ask God to bless our business or career, are we willing to give back a portion of what God has blessed us with; such as creating employment and giving back to help with the needs in your community?

The Bible says in James 4:3, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”. Motives are important in prayer. Why you pray is more important than what you pray for.

Is it possible to pray for the right thing with the wrong motive? Sure. I’m not saying you should never pray for your own personal needs. Jesus says to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 ESV). But we have to check our motive. Are we willing to share our blessing with other people, or are we going to hoard it all for ourselves?

God is not interested in simply satisfying our selfishness. The conditions of prayer are that we have an honest relationship with God, a forgiving attitude toward other people, and a willingness to share God’s blessings with others. God loves us, so He’s teaching us how to pray in an effective way. Let’s allow Him to, by first checking our motives when we come to Him.

Being Alone with God Is Vital

“When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray”. - Matthew 14:23 NKJV

Jesus was both human and divine. Because we tend to think of Him as the Son of God more than the son of man, we overlook what we can learn from His human experience. When Jesus miraculously fed 5000 people, His divine power and prerogatives were on display (Matt. 14:13-21). Yet after the event, we see His humanity in ways we should be able to identify with.

You cannot pour from an empty vessel, especially something of substance. Like anything of value in life, you must replenish or retain it. You may have a great car whether a Honda or a Tesla. But if you don't maintain it and occasionally refuel it, what do you think is going to happen to that car over time? You may have invested in a nice, beautiful home. But what do you think will become of that home if you don't upkeep and maintain it? The same goes for your relationship with God and your spirit, If you don't make time to be alone with God to replenish, refuel and be empowered.

After dismissing the crowd and sending the disciples away, Jesus withdrew to a solitary spot on the mountainside to be alone with God. After such a miracle, most of us would be celebrating. And those around us would have a hard time understanding why we sent them away. But Jesus understood that His power did not come from the crowd but from His Father, so He created time and solitude to be alone with Him. The relationship Jesus had with His Father is a picture of the relationship you and I can have with the Father too. Three things describe it:

Intimacy: “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does” (John 5:20).

Dependency: “The Son can do nothing for Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

Obedience: “I can of Myself do nothing...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30).

What do you need to send away in order to have such a relationship with the Lord? It's imperative that we understand the importance of being alone with God. #Godswordforyoutoday

Pray with Authority

“Elijah…said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain during these years, except by my word.’” - 1 Kings 17:1–2 NASB

Elijah stood all alone before King Ahab. Armies or throngs of people did not back him. In the flesh, he could have panicked, hesitated, or backed down.

Faced with similar circumstances, others might have felt afraid and helpless. They might assume that the real power was with armies and kings, the wealthy and powerful, or even the forces of darkness (witchcraft & obeah).

Like my sister always say, "God and I are the majority"! Elijah was fearless and confident. He knew that God was sovereign and had given him real authority. He was bold enough to believe Him and step out in faith.

Yes, you must have faith in order to pray with authority. This kind of faith comes from knowing God’s Word and a relational knowing of who God is. God puts His Word above His Name. Why? He puts His signature to back up everything He says! In giving us His authority, He gives us permission to speak His Word; to declare a thing and it shall be established (Job 22:28). As Believers, we have been given keys to the Kingdom of heaven to use in prayer, especially if it's two or three of us agreeing…“Whatever you bind (disallow) on earth, it will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose (allow) on earth, it will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19). Do you understand nothing is impossible to them that believe (Mark 9:23)?

“Many Christians simply did not understand or believe in the real power of prayer and that few prayed with authority”, says R.A.Torrey in his book on prayer. He spoke about Elijah and how “astounding things” were “brought to pass by his prayers.” At his word, the heavens were closed (bound). Only at his word were they opened (loosed) again. God backed up the words of Elijah, His prophet because he spoke in God’s authority, not his own.

The Bible reminds us that Elijah did not have superhuman powers. His nature was just like ours (James 5:17). If his prayers had such power, so can ours!

What astounding things are you praying for today? Are you willing to pray with authority? Don’t allow doubt and disbelief to dominate your heart and mind. Trust God’s Word. Exercise the authority He’s already given you. Believe that prayer changes things. Don’t limit your prayers or feel intimidated. Believe God for “astounding things” today. Shabbat Shalom!

Father, I commit these needs to You: _____. Thank You for the answers! All things are possible with You and because I believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.