January 19th, 2026
by Cynthia Gandhi Dobbs
by Cynthia Gandhi Dobbs
Day 16 | Unheard Prayer
When You Ask with Wrong Motives
One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, which means that God will provide. When we
call upon the name of God and pray for our needs, the God of provision meets those
needs, opening the window of heaven to bless us.
But sometimes we treat the almighty Jehovah Jireh like a genie in a bottle. We get in petition mode and ask God for frivolous things, even before praying for the things close to His heart. God does not honor petitions made in vain glory, or bless us with possessions to build up our personal pride or increase our vanity.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
James 4:1-3
Our desires battle within us and make us covetous. It may be the newest tech, or the latest kitchen or home appliance—we live in a culture that chases after the next new thing. In the above scriptures, God warns us of how
petitioners motivated by seeking after pleasures will not receive those requests.
God is interested in you…your needs and your desires. He put Godly desires in your heart when He created you. But it is important to know which desires are from God and which foster a battle in your heart, inspiring covetousness, pride, vain glory, materialism,
Prayer Challenge:
Have you been praying for some “thing” for a long time? Is the request still
unfulfilled? Pray today that God will show you if the desire for this “thing” stems from the wrong motives. Pray that you will be sensitive to know the
difference between Godly desires and ungodly desires.
Ask the Spirit of truth to search your heart and reveal your innermost desires,
those that have been placed in you for God’s purposes. Pray for these desires.
call upon the name of God and pray for our needs, the God of provision meets those
needs, opening the window of heaven to bless us.
But sometimes we treat the almighty Jehovah Jireh like a genie in a bottle. We get in petition mode and ask God for frivolous things, even before praying for the things close to His heart. God does not honor petitions made in vain glory, or bless us with possessions to build up our personal pride or increase our vanity.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
James 4:1-3
Our desires battle within us and make us covetous. It may be the newest tech, or the latest kitchen or home appliance—we live in a culture that chases after the next new thing. In the above scriptures, God warns us of how
petitioners motivated by seeking after pleasures will not receive those requests.
God is interested in you…your needs and your desires. He put Godly desires in your heart when He created you. But it is important to know which desires are from God and which foster a battle in your heart, inspiring covetousness, pride, vain glory, materialism,
Prayer Challenge:
Have you been praying for some “thing” for a long time? Is the request still
unfulfilled? Pray today that God will show you if the desire for this “thing” stems from the wrong motives. Pray that you will be sensitive to know the
difference between Godly desires and ungodly desires.
Ask the Spirit of truth to search your heart and reveal your innermost desires,
those that have been placed in you for God’s purposes. Pray for these desires.
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer of Fasting
No Comments