You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:2-3)

Faithful prayer hinges on how well we understand the meaning of believing prayer. We can get confused when well-meaning people bombard us with examples of times they prayed for something they wanted to happen — displayed unwavering belief that it would happen — and then sat back and watched it happen.

Trouble looms whenever we make God subject to the wisdom and whims of our human desires. We need to reconsider any approach to prayer that requires God to provide all our wants – that allows us to sidle up to God with our finite wisdom and human desires in order to say, “Now, God, I believe that I have figured out what you need to do for me!”

Such prayer is not truly believing in God’s infinite wisdom and perfect will, but in ours. Our confidence is to be that if we ask anything “according to God’s will” he answers (1 Jn. 5:14). Yes, we are to believe that God always answers biblical prayer, but such prayer trusts more in God’s designs than our desires. We believe he is wise enough to answer yes, no, not yet, or above all that we would ask or even think.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to pray for the things you desire. Help me to trust you enough to ask for what I need and to believe that you know better than I what that is.