Some reasons prayer goes unanswered - Part 2

In today’s Bible devotional we will look at an additional reason why prayer goes unanswered. That reason is praying with wrong motives.

The book of James talks about prayer going unanswered because our motives are pleasure centered.The passage is James 4:3

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

If our prayers are centered on fulfilling our own selfish pleasures then be prepared for those prayers to go unanswered. On the other hand, increased answers to prayer result from pure motives and an obedient heart. - 1 John 3:22

22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

But I don’t want to show an unbalanced picture of scripture. When God talks about not answering our prayers that are based on selfish pleasures this does not mean He is anti-enjoyment. God Himself provides us a multitude of ways to have wholesome enjoyment - 1 Timothy 6:17.

17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

In addition when our hearts are centered on Him, He also wants to give us our desires
Psalm 34:4.
4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

So let us purify our hearts and our motives so that we can look forward to an increase in prayers being answered.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)

God bless

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