“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 4:2-3

Lord God, as I look inside me and examine my desires, my motives and even what I do to get what I want, it shows me everything. When I look at the arguments I have with others, it is often because I’m trying to get what I want and am unconcerned with what is best or good for them. When I listen to my prayers, I’m so often asking with selfish and self-centered motives. I see that I am chasing the world. My prayers are not kingdom minded, not your will minded-even when I mouth the words. Lord, forgive me. And teach me to pray according to your will. Teach me to pray for your kingdom. Teach me to pray for daily bread. Teach me to seek what pleases you instead of what pleases me. Give me a distaste for this world and its fleeting pleasures and give me a deeper taste for your pleasures and an eternity at your right hand. Your gifts to me are the only thing that has lasting and eternal worth. Turn my heart, O God, to these things alone. Amen.