Daily Devotional – ‘In His Footstep’
By Kingdom Support Initiatives (KSi)
July 9th 2021

Why Do We Pray Amiss?
[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. James 4:3
Bible Reading: James 4:1-3
Our exhortation yesterday focused on prayer. We reminded ourselves of the need to pray— pray for everything, pray at all times and pray in every situation. In Jesus’ words, ‘watch and pray’ (Matthew 26:41) and Apostle Paul compliments by saying, ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Today, I would like us to dive deeper on why some prayers are not answered. In our Bible reading today, James outlines why we pray amiss: 1) when our ends and aims are not right in prayer. When we ask for blessings for selfish interest and our motive is to satisfy our lust, then our ends and aims are not right. Also, many christians go to God in prayers with the goal of putting God to work. They want God to bless what He is not part of. Instead of asking for and genuinely submitting to God’s will, they present their plans, desires and wants without asking for God’s intention. Furthermore, some ask without understanding God’s intention as written in the Scriptures. They are ignorant of God’s provision for that particular need in His word. No wonder God told prophet Hosea, “my people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Finally, there are times that sin keeps God from hearing us. Prophet Isaiah outs it thus: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. Isaiah 59:1-2 KJV. Dear friend, check yourself because God is truthful to His word, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Action Point: Pray to God in the name of Jesus about everything in your heart today.
Intercessory prayer: Intercede for those in needs that you know.
Hymn: Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So in sorrow and in gladness,
Don’t forget to pray.