A Simple Approach to Prayer That Might Transform Your Life

James 4:2-4 (New King James Version) 2 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. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and[adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We normally associate lust with what a man or woman does in their hearts toward the opposite sex. Yet lusting is simply an unhealthy desire. We are told not to lust in the Bible. We are told in the Ten Commandments that we are not to covet and yet the world we live in is coveting mad. The whole of the West survives in this mad rush for men and women and children to get everything they want. We see something that appeals to us and then our next thought is that we want it.

One day I read this passage: "Yet you do not have because you do not ask." and the Holy Spirit brought Jesus' voice to my heart. He said "you see Matthew, you do not have because you do not ask me." I was stunned that the verse was in the Bible.

So how is it so that we are busy lusting and we do not have? Its simple, we lust after things that do not profit. We sin when we covet what others have. We should simply assess our lives and approach the Lord Jesus with out needs, the things that we really need not the pleasures mentioned in verse three.

The world as we know it is so caught up in buying and having the best. Here is something that is free for you though. This article does not cost you anything to read. It's here for free.

Simply come to God and through Jesus petition Him for the things that you really need not the things that you covet. Have you someone that you want to see saved, have you got a passion to serve the Lord, have you got a neighbour that has a need in their life that you want to help them with? These are all valid prayers. Petition the Father and seek the Lord for His good favour.

You'll notice James is making it quite clear here that people are all mixed up. They are lusting after the world, they are coveting their neighbours good and things that are popular and they pray for money so that they can spend it on their pleasures.

Can I tell you the two Interests of the Lord Jesus?

If I could reduce the whole Bible down to two things this is what I feel Jesus wants.

1 He wants sinners t come to salvation

2 He wants the people that know Him to come closer to Him into a life of holiness that is set apart for Him. He wants His followers to be intimate with Him. He wants in that relationship to give them a purpose driven life.

What are you doing toward those two ends?

Are you working toward those two wants of Jesus?

In verse four James tells the church that they are committing spiritual adultery with the world. James says it quite clearly that if you want to be a friend of the world and its enticements than you are an enemy of God.

I know I am a fool for Jesus.

I know that I am quite rare. But I only want the same two things in life. I want to bring sinners to the saving grace of Jesus, and I want to encourage people to walk closer to the Lord.

Do you pray with these two things in mind?

How would your prayer life change from this day on? Would you pray differently? Would you spend your money on these two things? Would focus come off the things of the world and shift to the kingdom of God? Do you see that God wants His kingdom built on earth?

He has prepared a mansion in heaven for all of us, why do you need one on earth?

Paul had these sobering words to speak to his disciple Timothy

1 Timothy 6:6-11 (New King James Version) 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Don't you see you cannot take anything out of this world except having been a person that helped God bring another person to heaven and to bring his believers closer to Him and to more reward in heaven.

Do you know a good book for a non Christian to read that would lead him to the Lord? Buy ten of them and give them out.

Do you know a good book that led you into a deeper relationship with the Lord. Buy ten of them and give them out.

Develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life, as Paul says, pursue them.

Ask God for help in all these things. Your prayer life will be transformed when you get it deep into your Spirit what is important.

If houses and assets were important Jesus would have bought his mother a bigger house and fitted t out with servants with all the money his ministry raised. But the kingdom of God was all that was important and that is why he taught his followers to take no money in their money belt.

Find a ministry doing a good job and send them money. Pray for more money and send Bibles to the poor countries of the world. Start to tithe and take a more active role in your church. Ask the Lord to give you your own ministry?

God bless.

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If you have enjoyed my article you can read the book "The parables of Jesus made simple" for free here in its entirety or just selected parables in chapters at http://www.parables-of-jesus-christ.net/ The book will be published in book form in January 2011