Would
that Christians might see what incalculable harm they do themselves by the
thought that because possibly their prayer is not according to God's will, they
must be content without an answer. God's word tells us that the great reason of
unanswered prayer is that we do not pray aright: "Ye ask and receive not,
because ye ask amiss." (James 4:3) In not granting an answer, the Father tells
us that there is something wrong in our praying. He wants to teach us to find it
out and confess it, and so to educate us to true believing and prevailing
prayer. He can only attain His object when He brings us to see that we are to
blame for the withholding of the answer; our aim, or our faith, or our life is
not what it should be. But this purpose of God is frustrated as long as we are
content to say: It is perhaps because my prayer is not according to His will
that He does not hear me. O let us no longer throw the blame of our unanswered
prayers on the secret will of God, but on our praying amiss. - Andrew Murray
Worldly
and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction.
Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward
God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by
the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God
prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the
things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold
desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the
language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. - Matthew Henry
Would
that Christians might see what incalculable harm they do themselves by the
thought that because possibly their prayer is not according to God's will, they
must be content without an answer. God's word tells us that the great reason of
unanswered prayer is that we do not pray aright: "Ye ask and receive not,
because ye ask amiss." (James 4:3) In not granting an answer, the Father tells
us that there is something wrong in our praying. He wants to teach us to find it
out and confess it, and so to educate us to true believing and prevailing
prayer. He can only attain His object when He brings us to see that we are to
blame for the withholding of the answer; our aim, or our faith, or our life is
not what it should be. But this purpose of God is frustrated as long as we are
content to say: It is perhaps because my prayer is not according to His will
that He does not hear me. O let us no longer throw the blame of our unanswered
prayers on the secret will of God, but on our praying amiss. - Andrew Murray
Worldly
and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction.
Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward
God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by
the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God
prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the
things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold
desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the
language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. - Matthew Henry