LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY (con't)
Second:
The Holy Spirit teaches us that we are not to pray with a selfish spirit. The apostle James wrote, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3). If we are totally honest, we have to admit that often we pray selfishly. We pray for things that would make our lives easier. We pray to be removed from unpleasant situation. While David did say, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4), and we may wish to be removed from a troublesome situation. However, we should keep in mind that there may be times when God allows us to be in the situation we are in for a reason. Joseph told his brothers that they had meant selling him into slavery for evil but God meant it for good so that he would one day be able to save many lives including theirs. We should be careful and consider that praying to have our situations changed could be a selfish prayer. Perhaps it would be better to pray for grace sufficient to endure our struggle. When the Holy Spirit is able to teach us to pray unselfishly, our prayer life will be healthier and stronger and effectual.
(Third point coming)