When You Prayናሙና

Because You Ask Not.

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” - James‬ ‭4:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for “lust” is “epithymeō” (G1937), which means, “To turn upon a thing, to have a desire for, long for, to desire to covet, of those who seek things forbidden.”

Lust consumes. Lust covets. Ye have not because lust is at the center of your “ask.” When you pray, submit your heart to God and let Christ lead your heart. What’s in your heart?

Psalm‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.” Let Christ give you a clean heart. Let Christ give you a new heart. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “create” is, "bara" (H1254), which means “To create, shape, or to form.”

Let God's Word shape your heart. Let His Word form your “ask.” Let His Word form you from the inside out. Ezekiel‬ ‭36:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

Let God take away the stones of the past. Let God take away the heart of old. Let God give you a heart of flesh that’s pliable and responsive to His Word. For His Word is greater than your past. His Word is greater than your pain.

Psalm‬ ‭107:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.” Let His Word heal you from the destructions of the past. Let His Word deliver you. Let His Word set you free.

When you pray—the Lord will send His Word. When you pray—the Lord will send help. When you pray—the Lord will strengthen you. His Word is His Promise. Choose to yield to His Way. Choose to yield to His Word.

James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The prayers of the righteous availeth much. The prayers of the submitted man availeth much. The prayers of those who yield their hearts to God availeth much.

The Amplified Version puts James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ this way, “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”

Prayer is a weapon against the enemy. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Keep praying. There is power in prayer. Let God build you up. Let God restore you. Let God strengthen you. Let God lead your heart.

Don’t discount prayer. For when you pray—things move. For when you pray—things shift. For when you pray—lives are transformed. For when you pray—regions are restored. Don’t stop praying. The Lord hears you.

We hope this Plan encouraged you.

Explore Other Resources from Vance K. Jackson.