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The Struggles of Prayer > DEVOTION 17: Praying Amiss

THE STRUGGLES OF PRAYER

You have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:2-3) 

Obviously, a prayer not prayed can’t be answered. This explains James’ words, “You have not, because you ask not.” How much self-induced spiritual poverty is attributable to the sin of prayerlessness? What voids exist in spiritual lives because of vacant prayer closets? I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that when Christ shines the light of eternity back over our earthly lives the thing that will prove most grievous to us is the fact that we prayed so little.

 

While prayers not prayed can’t be answered, many a prayed prayer goes unanswered. The problem here is not that we don’t ask, but that we “ask amiss.” According to James, we ask amiss when we pray for our own pleasure. Such selfish prayers are unpleasing to God, not to mention unanswerable by Him, except on those rare occasions when He decides to teach us a lesson by giving us what we ask for (1 Samuel 8:1-22).

 

I’m continuously amazed at Christians who get upset with God every time He answers a selfish prayer with a resounding “No!” Rather than griping and grumbling over God’s refusal to give us everything we want, we ought to be grateful that God refuses to do so, lest we be swallowed up by our own selfishness.

 

The tale is told in ancient mythology about a magic vest. Whoever donned the vest got everything they wished for. The catch, however, was found in the tightening of the vest with each granted request. Ultimately, everyone who donned it was choked to death by it. Gratefully, God refuses to answer selfish prayers and serve as our magic vest, lest He be a party to us straggling ourselves to death with our own selfish “lusts.”

 

“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” (Garth Brooks)

Don Walton