Pressure Point Week 7: Tuesday

Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:2b-3

I heard a story last Christmas about someone who had an unusual Christmas gift. She did not ask for her favorite toy, a puppy, or any of the usual gifts that little kids ask for. Instead, she asked for a gift for her friend who was not expecting to get much for Christmas. What an incredibly selfless wish! Most of us as adults do not think that selflessly. Instead, we ask for things in our best interest, even when we pray. According to James, there is a better way of living than praying selfishly with only ourselves in mind.

James calls us to let go of pride in our prayer lives in James 4. He began this chapter warning against selfish, prideful attitudes. As he wrote about the harmfulness of these attitudes, he wrote, “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure (verses 2-3). We may not realize it, but even our prayer lives can reveal pride. When we only pray for ourselves and the things that give us pleasure, we have let pride seep into our lives. Humility in prayer thinks of others and seeks God's will over our own. 

When I think about humble prayers, there is no better example than Jesus’ prayer to God the Father shortly before His death on the cross. As He grappled with the excruciating crucifixion and death He was about to endure, Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42). In the face of immeasurable pain and death, Jesus surrendered His will to God the Father. This is what it means to pray humbly.

When it comes to your own prayer life, do you find yourself praying for yourselves and the things that bring you pleasure, or do you pray for God's will above all else? Are you willing to let go of your pride and pray for God's will over your own? Are you willing to expand your prayer life to think about others and the needs around you? Let's be people who demonstrate humility in every area, including our prayer lives.

Moving toward action

Evaluate your prayer life for a moment. Make a list of the things that you pray for most often. What is the purpose behind your prayers? Are you praying for only the things that give you pleasure, or are you praying selflessly? After evaluating, pray. Pray selflessly, with the right motives. Pray for others. Pray for God's will to be done in your life and all the situations you pray for. Let go of selfish and prideful prayers and pray selflessly instead. 

Going Deeper

Luke 22:39-46