Christian Healing Ministry - Devotionals

Devotional for May 21, 2026

ARE YOU PRAYING FOR THE RIGHT REASON

SCRIPTURE READING - 📖 James 4:3 Bible

“Ye do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.”

Additional Verses

📖 1 Samuel 1:1-28; Matthew 7:1-12; James 4:1-17

To all children of God, while the LORD has assured to see you through all circumstances of life, you may be one of those who may be saying that I have been praying and praying, knocking and knocking, seeking and seeking, but why is it that all other children of God are receiving and my prayers seem to be hitting the wall? The first question I would like to ask you is, whatever you may have been praying for, have you been praying for the right reason? The second question is, whatever you may be asking for, from God, what is your motive for that which you so much desire to have? In the above text, James clearly tells us that many children of God fail to receive responses to their prayers because they ask amiss. Their intention is that when they get what they desire, they spend it in sensual or carnal pleasures. Some who have been afflicted by sickness or other evils are failing to receive healing though they may have prayed and prayed to God just because when they become healthy again, they would still want to go back to their old and ungodly life styles. Such people cannot at all commit themselves fully to serving the LORD. They still have a special attachment to the world. Some may have lost their jobs because of their serious evil attachment to the world. For example you could have lost your job because of your bad drinking habits and you have only stopped drinking just because you are now unemployed. Your intention is that once you get employed you will be back to your old habits. Great men and women in the Holy Bible prayed to God for right reasons and their prayers were granted. 1 Samuel 1:11 says, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then l will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” Hannah was sincere to God and at the right time God blessed her with a man child. After she had weaned him, boy Samuel, she took him to the temple to serve the LORD as she had vowed. Because she honored the vow and remained faithful to God, the LORD blessed her with other three sons and two daughters. Solomon asked for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding in leading the children of Israel and this pleased the Lord. He was given even more of which he had not asked for. Listen to what the Lord God said to him in 1 Kings 3:12, “Behold, l have done according to thy words; lo, l have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And l have also given that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor; so that there shall not be any among kings like unto thee all thy days.” Today I am therefore encouraging you to be sincere when you pray to God. Being sincere means that you must pray to God earnestly and for the right reason. When you do this, God will certainly reward you and highly magnify you all the days of your life. Alleluia!

Prayer

Almighty God, I am sorry for the time that I have been praying for the wrong reasons and motives. I ask that from now onwards as I pray, that I may not be self- centered, but I should pray for the right reasons. Thank You LORD Jesus. Amen