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James Chapter 4 begins talking about how we don't get the things we want so we scheme and kill to get them. Then James points out that we don't have what we want because we don't ask GOD and if we do ask GOD, we ask with the wrong motivation--we only want stuff to spend on our own selfish pursuits. So the question to really ask is "how do I know what my motivation is?" Maybe the answer for our motivation comes in the reaction to the answer. When we ask for something and don't get it (no matter what it is) what do we do then? If we continue on in faith with asking and believing, say for someone's healing or salvation--then I think that reflects the right attitude and the right motivation. Or perhaps we accept that no means no and that for some reason, it is what GOD has chosen to do. This would be the result God desires and is pleased with. Thus I think it fits the description of asking GOD for what is right and pleasing. Surely, there is still God's will involved and HIS time and planning. Thus the answer may not come when we want or how we want but again that is the revealing of our motivation.
However, when we ask God for something and we don't get it--if our response is anger or bitterness, then it's likely we are asking with a wrong heart/motivation, even if what we ask for seems to be a good thing. Again the response to not getting what we ask for is the key. The response reveals what the real nature of our relationship with GOD is. If we ask for something from the ONE we trust as our only provider and understand that the relationship is from a child to the parent (or the thing created to the creator, or even the clay to the potter), then not getting whatever it is results in no bitterness or anger. It might result in an understanding that we don't truly need our request. It might result in an understanding that it wouldn't be good for us. Or it might result in a renewed pursuit of the request through prayer--again evidence that we understand our relationship with our Father. However, the anger and bitterness reveal a different kind of relationship. This reveals a relationship that says to God He owes us, and if we don't get what is owed to us then we have the right to be mad. We are the little kid that points out a toy and says "she got one, why don't I get one?" We are really not asking of GOD but instead we have demanded of HIM but clothed it in a request so as to be sneaky. The same way we begin to flatter someone just before hitting them up for a request. "Gee, Mom, you look so nice. I really like your new outfit. Can I borrow your car." It's difficult to accept when we don't get something we want. God understands that part. But what we have to understand is that our reaction, though it comes afterward, really reveals what was within us to begin with.
posted by Darol at 10:42 AM

 
Not really a Bible verse but a thought, so to speak. At what point in our lives do we move from saying words to living the words? When I say, I worship you LORD, what does that mean? The question is not only what is worship, but how am I doing what that word means to reflect what I say? It follows the same with love, praise, etc. What do these words mean and more importantly how do they move into being in our lives? When I am praying and I say that I praise you, LORD, the act of saying those words is the beginning of praising HIM. But it must go deeper. It's like telling someone I love them. Telling them is a part of the love. But if it stops at telling, do I really love? maybe but don't I have to go further to really show love? Don't I have to go past saying I worship you LORD, to actually worship?
posted by Darol at 2:43 PM