James 4:2 states: “You lust, and have not (meaning such a person is not looking to God, but rather operating form self-will): you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain (the word “kill” refers to destroying the reputation of another in order to gain advantage, and to do so by slander, etc.): you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. (This refers to Believers who little seek the Lord for anything, but rather depend upon: other sources that are irregular to say the least!)
James 4:3 states: “You ask, and receive not (and there is a reason), because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. (Such a person is not asking in the Will of God, but rather from his or her own selfish desires.)
“Many Christians pray for a bushel, but carry a cup.” I read this on a sign in front of a church.
In John 16:23 the bible states: “And in that day you shall ask Me nothing (meaning; will not ask Me Personally, as you now do). Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My Name (according to what He did at the Cross, and our Faith in that Finished Work), He will give it you (in other words He places us in direct relationship with the Father, enjoying the same access as He Himself enjoys).
Listen: It’s obvious that God never intended for His children to lack anything. Jesus said so. Why then do we have prayers that seem to go unanswered? WHAT GIVES?
Well there is one thing that we seem to forget. Jesus said in John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” Could it be that all our “needs and wants” are not in the will of the Father? We have a bad habit of doing what we want, and then asking God to bless it. God loves us to much to let us get by with that. With loving hands He nudges us back into His will. Whether it’s soft or had nudging depends on us, not Him.
God wants to bless us by the bushel, but most of us only carry a cup.
