16 ASK IN PRAYER TO RECEIVE.

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

     —James 4:2

What keeps us from asking for what we truly need?

     •     Pride. We are too proud to ask.

     •     Ignorance. We don’t know how to ask or what to ask for.

     •     Lust. We ask for the wrong thing lusting for what we want instead of what we need.

     •     Doubt. We don’t have the faith or trust in God that He will really move on our behalf.

     •     Anger. We are angry with God or someone else and that anger walls us out from receiving what God wants us to have.

     •     Greed. We want for ourselves instead of for the kingdom.

     •     Hurt. We allow our pain to block our healing.

     •     Relief. We want relief more than correction, discipline or restoration.

So what’s really keeping you from asking? Whatever it is, repent. Let God change your heart so that you can pray for what He wants instead of your own selfish desires.

Oh God,

Teach me what I need and how to ask so that I will receive from You what is needful in Your kingdom. Amen.