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Prayer Barriers – Part 3

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

Barrier 4 - selfishness.. To take a closer look at our praying, is to come face to face with selfishness. There is such confusion over wants and needs, rights and favors, justice and grace, creature comforts and conformity to Christ. It is impossible to grow spiritually without trials. To pray, 'give me an easy, happy, problem-free life,' is a prayer God cannot answer because if He did, you would be destroyed.

Barrier 5 - uncaring attitudes. The Israelites wondered why God was not answering their prayers. Here is what He told them: '...stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly...share your food with the hungry...Clothe those who are cold and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things...the Lord will answer' (Isaiah 58:6-9). God is committed to developing a people who will reflect His character and His character always expresses compassion for others. Have you seen the cartoon picturing hundreds of people lined up as far back as the eye can see? Each is thinking the same thing: What can I do, I am just one person? As just one person you may not be able to change the world. You can, however, look for small ways to show you care. Perhaps your church works with a soup kitchen or prison ministry. Maybe your skills could make a small difference in the evils of unemployment, illiteracy, child abuse, alcoholism or suicide. As long as your ear is open to the hurting, God will keep His ear open to you.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me to serve you by serving those in need. Give me your eyes to see those you place before me today that are in need of your mercy and compassion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen