Becoming Like Jesus: PrayerSample

The Wrong Motives

Throughout this plan, we have been learning from Jesus how to pray. We started by praying to our Heavenly Father prayers of adoration, deep love and respect. Then, we prayed prayers of intercession, praying to God on behalf of others. This week has been all about petitioning God for what we need.

All of this is built on understanding the fundamental truth that God is our loving Father. He is not distant or detached. He is close and compassionate. He loves us and wants what’s best for us.

Imagine the greatest parent on the planet, and they still wouldn’t measure up to the goodness of our God. He wants to bless us and give us good things.

But, sometimes, there’s a problem that gets in the way of our prayers. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today.

Pray…

Father, thank you for being a good dad. Give me the wisdom to see you truly and the power to love you deeply. Help me pray to you with pure motives and a focus on your will. Show me the things in me that you want to change so I can follow you more faithfully. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

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 4:2-3 NLT

Consider…

James is showing us two big problems that get in the way of our prayers being answered. Problem number one is not actually asking God for what we want. Yes, God knows what we want before we ask it, but He wants us to ask anyway. Why? Because the purpose of prayer isn’t to get things from God. The purpose of prayer is to get to know God. Problem number two is asking with the wrong motives. Specifically, asking God to give us something that will benefit us, but it won’t benefit others.

Jesus taught that the two most important commands are to love God with every part of who we are and to love others as we love ourselves. When we pray as an act of devotion to God and as a way to serve others, we are praying with pure motives. If our prayers aren’t focused on those things, then should we really be surprised when God doesn’t answer them?

When you pray, what are your motives? How have your motives changed throughout this plan? Are they more self-centered or others-focused? Is prayer more about getting to know your Heavenly Father or getting things from Him?

Practice…

Pray to God by asking for what you need. Examine your motives and ask God to help you pray with motives that are pure. Ask God to give you a heart for Him and a passion for His people.

As you do, imagine you are talking to God face-to-face. Because, at its most basic level, that’s really what prayer is: talking to God.

When you’re ready, pray to your Father using Jesus’ words, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy… give us today the food we need…” Matthew 6:9,11 NLT

Listen…

Create space to experience God’s presence by getting quiet, getting alone, and asking Him to speak. Start by setting a timer for five minutes.

Next, ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted, because you will get distracted, bring your focus back to God by repeating the first words of this prayer: “Our Father…”

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you got to spend with Him, then head into your day looking for opportunities to better serve Him and serve others.