What’s in your list of things to pray for? Does it contain “give me that” requests akin to worldly things which the apostle James describes as selfish?
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:3
If your list needs rewriting, follow God’s standard for prayer. The Lord teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6. We should pray that God’s name be glorified, that God’s kingdom be extended, that you may not fall into trials beyond what you can handle, for God’s provision, for forgiveness, and for His protection from evil.
There are other things in the bible that should be included in our list such as our need for wisdom and for greater faith, for the spread of the gospel, among others.
Bible teacher John Piper has come up with a list of the things we should pray for in this article: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-to-pray-for
As you study the bible, you will find that an effective prayer is that which seeks to glorify God. If you find that your list looks like a shopping list, then it’s time to revamp it.
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