"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss,
that you may spend it on your pleasures."
James 4:3
Two women were talking about prayer. One said, "I don't pray as much as I have in the past. It seems like I never got any answers to those prayers." The other lady said, "I'm glad that God hasn't answered some of my prayers. He knows what's best for me. It's like when I need to say no to my children. They may ask for things that could bring them harm." We should rejoice that God's will for us is good. He knows what is best for us. For that reason, He sometimes refuses our requests.
Prayer must be in line with God's good will. His will is always good, acceptable and perfect for our lives (Romans 12:2). Therefore, prayer is asking according to God's will. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). The word confidence is a synonym for faith. We can only ask in faith, or with confidence, when we know that it's God's will.
How can we know for sure God's will when we pray? One sure way to know is through Scripture. The Word of God is the will of God. Another way to know for sure is through the character of God. We pray according to the Spirit of God, who certainly knows the will of God.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). These words describe our motivation in prayer, led by the Spirit. Otherwise, our prayers are not answered, because we ask amiss.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). These words describe our motivation in prayer, led by the Spirit. Otherwise, our prayers are not answered, because we ask amiss.
