Read James 4:2-3 several times:

“You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Having read these verses, what is God saying to you?

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Answer these questions:

• According to verse three, what is the reason we sometimes miss blessings and answers to our prayers?
• What does verse three indicate is the thing that makes our motives wrong?
• Verse two talks about being “envious” of what other people have. What is the connection between envy and praying with wrong motives?
• When our praying is motivated by what we want, how is our ability to pray in God’s will hindered?
• Do you ever pray with wrong motives?
• Which do you want more: God’s will or something else?

After answering these questions, write or verbalize a personal prayer to God.

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Praying for our church:
We are seeking God’s wisdom for dealing with five specific challenges our church is facing.
Today please pray for God’s wisdom in dealing with the following challenge:

• How do we better balance the attendance between our 9:15 am and 10:30 am Sunday School hours and worship services?