James 4:1-3 Part 2 of 2

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure.

 

Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.

Psalm 18:41  They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer. (see verses 37-45)

Matthew 7:7  "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (see verses 7-11; also Matthew 18:19, 21:22)

John 14:13-14  "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" (see all chapter 14; also John 15:1-17; 16:23-24)

James 1:5-8  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James 5:16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (see verses 13-18)

 

And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure. 

Psalm 66:18  If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened. (see verses 16-20)

1 John 3:22  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. (see verses 18-24)

1 John 5:14  And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. (see verses 13-21)

 

(parentheses are mine)

 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.