 WHEN YOU ASK, YOU DO NOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE YOU ASK WITH WRONG MOTIVES… JAMES 4:3 |
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| Barrier No. 4 – selfishness. To take a closer look at our praying means coming face to face with selfishness. That means realising the difference between wants and needs, rights and responsibilities, justice and grace, personal comforts and being a living sacrifice. It’s impossible to grow spiritually without tests of faith. To pray ‘give me an easy, happy, problem-free life,’ is a prayer God can’t answer because if He did you, and faith, would never grow.
Barrier No. 5 – uncaring attitudes. The Israelites wondered why God was not answering their prayers. Here’s what He told them: ‘Stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly…share your food with the hungry…Clothe those who are cold and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things…the Lord will answer’ (Isaiah 58:6-9 TLB). God’s committed to developing people who will be full of his love and who will show it to the world. Have you seen the cartoon picturing hundreds of people lined up as far back as the eye can see? Each of them is thinking the same thing: ‘What can I do? I am just one person?’ As just one person you may not be able to change the world. You can, however, look for small ways to show you care. Maybe your church runs a kids’ club or a soup run? Maybe you could make a difference for someone who struggles with reading and writing, or you could cheer up someone who’s upset. As long as your ear is open to the hurting, God will keep His ear open to you. Join Bless India online prayer campaign to pray for India and be a blessing. |
