(James 4:3): ... New International Version (NIV)
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives......"
Do we think this only means things and desires? Or do we realize that anything outside of Christ's will - will not be done in the power of Prayer? Even certain happinesses.
The chain of prayer is:
1). Initiated by God. (this may surprise some of us).
2). Prayed by men, ( our volitional will being employed by God; "you have not because you ask not...") and,
3). ...the work accomplished in accordance with God's will.
God answers prayer so as to achieve His will. As a comparison: Prayer is laying down tracks for the will of God to run on.
Jesus asked the Disciples to pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth Laborers. After awhile, those who were sent out were these very disciples. As we pray for a certain thing, are we in His presence enough and aligned with Him properly to realize God is preparing many of us who are saying within ourselves, "I cannot do anything, but I can at least pray for this...," to be willing to do the very same thing?
If God cannot change the one who prays, how can He change the one who is prayed for? How can we ever expect God to send out others if we are unprepared for being sent out too?
Some would say, "God gives them a heart for prayer, but I have been given a heart of stone, let me witness in this way!" But I am reminded of (Ezekiel 36:26-27):
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees ..."
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives......"
Do we think this only means things and desires? Or do we realize that anything outside of Christ's will - will not be done in the power of Prayer? Even certain happinesses.
The chain of prayer is:
1). Initiated by God. (this may surprise some of us).
2). Prayed by men, ( our volitional will being employed by God; "you have not because you ask not...") and,
3). ...the work accomplished in accordance with God's will.
God answers prayer so as to achieve His will. As a comparison: Prayer is laying down tracks for the will of God to run on.
Jesus asked the Disciples to pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth Laborers. After awhile, those who were sent out were these very disciples. As we pray for a certain thing, are we in His presence enough and aligned with Him properly to realize God is preparing many of us who are saying within ourselves, "I cannot do anything, but I can at least pray for this...," to be willing to do the very same thing?
If God cannot change the one who prays, how can He change the one who is prayed for? How can we ever expect God to send out others if we are unprepared for being sent out too?
Some would say, "God gives them a heart for prayer, but I have been given a heart of stone, let me witness in this way!" But I am reminded of (Ezekiel 36:26-27):
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees ..."