I’ve been struggling (perhaps not the best word) lately regarding my prayer life.\u00a0 I wonder if you could share some insights into my thoughts.\u00a0 I don’t know that I have an answer, just questions.<\/p>\n
It occurs to me that I see a pattern in several locations in Scripture from which my questions stem.\u00a0 For example, I read in Ecclesiastes that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.\u00a0 I then read in Matthew from Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount that we are to not worry over things but to trust God — to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness.\u00a0 Then I read in James that we have not because we ask “amiss” or for the wrong reasons.\u00a0 However, I also read in James that the prayers of a righteous man are considered by God.\u00a0 A great example of this is Cornelius in Acts where God recognized him as a devout man.\u00a0 His prayer was answered but not what he was likely expecting.<\/p>\n
Here’s my dilemma.\u00a0 It seems that on one hand, I have no right to ask God for anything other than with the intent that He be glorified and that He be served.\u00a0 For example, I hear many prayers of people asking for rain, to heal the sick, to remove things in life that generally make us uncomfortable.\u00a0 I hear this from non-Christians as well as brethren.\u00a0 And although I understand that we should approach the Lord it seems that our motivations are wrong; hence, perhaps, a reason why prayers are often not answered as we wish.\u00a0 Would it not be more pleasing to God, more accurate in His eyes, to pray that in addition to His will being done that sister so-in-so or brother whoever be healed so that they may continue to serve God and to bring others to Him?\u00a0 Or that the rain come to show God’s glory?\u00a0 Or, as Paul prayed, that we have the strength to deal with the trial and to turn it to God’s glory?<\/p>\n
If indeed I am truly a slave to our Lord then I have no right to ask anything for myself, only to please the Master.\u00a0 Because of these thoughts, I have changed my prayer life to focus in this direction.<\/p>\n
As I said, I have questions and would appreciate your insights.<\/p>\n\t
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures<\/em>” (James 4:1).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
James points out that one reason prayers fail is that those prayers are being made from the wrong motives. Their prayers are solely for their own personal pleasures.<\/p>\n
But I think you missed a point when you assert that perhaps only prayers that give glory to God will be answered. Our prayers should be with the aim that God’s will be furthered in the world. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it<\/em>” (John 14:13-14). “In my name” is a way of saying in accordance with Jesus’ will or by his authority. But a part of God’s will is a concern for our fellow man. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much<\/em>” (James 4:16). It is that concern for each other that demonstrates we are Christians. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another<\/em>” (John 13:34-35).<\/p>\n
Now if you are saying that someone is praying for another solely to remove his own personal discomfort in dealing with that person, then I would agree. But I would hope that most pray because they genuinely love the person and are concerned about them.<\/p>\n
But prayers also include personal requests. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:1-4). There is nothing wrong with praying for a peaceful life because teaching can be more productive in times of peace. Or praying, “Give us this day our daily bread<\/em>” (Matthew 6:11). By asking for food we are also acknowledging the source of our substance. These are not wrong because it is the Bible which states, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat<\/em>” (II Thessalonians 3:10). Such prayers are not demands for fulfilling personal gratification, but requests for aid in dealing with life.<\/p>\n
When we pray for things that are in accordance with what God teaches, then God hears our prayers. The answers might not always be what we expect, but we trust our Father that the answers we get ultimately do us and others best in the long run. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!<\/em>” (Matthew 7:8-11). What James is telling us is to not be like the spoiled brat hanging on Mom’s coat demanding that he gets whatever he sees. Just as a parent will ignore such ungrateful demands, God will not answer prayers of such a nature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: I’ve been struggling (perhaps not the best word) lately regarding my prayer life.\u00a0 I wonder if you could share some insights into my thoughts.\u00a0 I don’t know that I have an answer, just questions. It occurs to me that I see a pattern in several locations in Scripture from which my questions stem.\u00a0 For…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1510],"class_list":["post-13583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-prayers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16366,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-respond-to-the-prayers-of-the-alien-sinner\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":0},"title":"Does God respond to the prayers of the alien sinner?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In my study of God's Word, I've come to the conclusion that God does not respond to the prayers of an \"alien sinner\" when asking for God's blessings on himself.\u00a0 However, what are your thoughts on whether God responds to an \"alien sinners\" prayers when praying for someone else?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19463,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-answer-every-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":1},"title":"Does God Answer Every Prayer?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 31, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes; Vol. 56, No. 3; Jan. 19, 2007. Question: \"I believe that when we pray for something, in faith, God will give it to us. If we are sick, we can pray and God will heal us. He is able to do all things. So,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/prayer-2-1-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10876,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-you-get-some-verses-wrong-concerning-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":2},"title":"Did you get some verses wrong concerning prayer?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 18, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a Christain who attends a Church of Christ. In a search to assist me in my study of God's word, I came across your site. I happened to be gleaning over the Scriptures listed in reference to prayer and was surprised to find that some of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82011,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-everything-you-have-faith-in-come-true\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":3},"title":"Does everything you have faith in come true?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi sir, I was just wondering if everything you have faith in comes true. The Bible says faith can move mountains. Is that always the case? What if the thing that I wanted to have happen wasn't meant to happen, but I still had faith in it? Another question\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19458,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/unanswered-prayers\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":4},"title":"Unanswered Prayers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 31, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Lewis Willis via\u00a0Guardian of Truth; April 4, 1991; Vol. XXXV, No. 7; pp. 193, 215 When I think of prayer, I think of it as the very essence of the Christian's relationship with God. It is our link of communication with him, as the New Testament is his link\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/prayer-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28449,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-bad-to-keep-on-praying-the-same-prayer-all-over-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":13583,"position":5},"title":"Is it bad to keep on praying the same prayer all over again?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 13, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: This is a question about prayer. Is it bad to keep on praying the same prayer all over again? It could be from desperation, or it can be another reason. 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