The Right Motives for Prayer

What is the right attitude for prayer? How do we know whether we are praying our own motives as opposed to God’s motives? Exactly how should we pray?

Jesus taught His disciples to pray with the “Our Father” in Matthew 6:9-10. It is the right attitude to begin with the perspective of God being your father in heaven and honoring Him with “hallowed be Your name (6:9, NASB).” It orients us to humble ourself before God, the author of the heavens and the earth as well as our life.

God is worthy of all praise. We should honor Him first and foremost above all things. To accept, “Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven (10),” is to place God’s desires over your desires. It is to trust that God has a higher purpose in mind and His timing is perfect.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:3

How do we discern our motives, our selfish desires, from God’s motives when we pray? To know God is to know His desires. To know ourselves is know our strengths and weaknesses. At times our frustrations and envy can cause us to desire worldly things. Our anger might prompt jealousy or a desire for revenge.

In those times it is good to recognize our human traits and humble ourselves before God. James encourages us to “draw near to God and He will draw near to you (4:7, NASB).” Getting closer to God instead of the world helps to discern a proper response to the challenges we face in life and helps us avoid sin. 

When we draw on the Spirit of God to direct our response instead of our own desires, we tap into God’s desires for us. By humbling ourselves before God, we lay aside our human desires. James advised, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (4:10).”

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. – 1 Peter 4:7