A Prayer about Asking Wrongly

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3

Generous Father,

As we continue to consider the difference 

between living out of the world’s wisdom 

or your wisdom, 

we see how the world’s wisdom 

hinders our prayers. 

If “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” 

drive us, then we quarrel and fight, 

we go to war with one another. 

We even murder, James says (James 4:2).

If we become murderous in our thoughts 

and demanding in our desires, 

we won’t even dare to approach you 

to ask about them. 

We know something is off. 

If we do ask from such a state, 

we probably won’t receive (James 4:3),

because why would you hand 

a murderous, power-hungry woman 

a sword to commit the crime? 

There is only one hope 

for our bitter jealousy and selfish ambition: 

“[You] give more grace. 

[You] oppose the proud, 

but give grace to the humble” (James 4:6). 

May we indeed in all of our prayer, 

submit ourselves to you, draw near to you, 

and resist the devil, that he may flee from us. 

As we humble ourselves before you, 

you do the most amazing thing—

you exalt us (James 4:7-10). 

Thank you for your incomprehensible grace, 

saving Lord. Amen.

Read James 4:1-10.