Prayer Changes Things: Jam. 4:2b-10

I. We Are Prayerless vs. 2b

A. We do not have some blessings simply, because we do not ask. God wants to bless us, but we have to ask for the blessing(s). Matt. 7:7-12

Matthew 7:7–12 NASB95

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

B. What would God give us if we only asked?

II. We Are Praying Wrong vs. 3-6

A. A lot of the time, we pray selfishly, instead of really praying for God’s will to be done.

B. If our prayers are being answered with a “no” consistently, then we might want to reconsider our motives.

C. If there’s silence “on the line” then it is an invitation to go deeper with God, and seek Him. This uncovers our motives and helps us deal with sin in our life.

D. We get worldly attitudes by being humans with a sin nature. So, God gives us grace to overcome.

III. Prayer Changes Us, Before Anything Else Does vs. 7-10

A. Prayer changes us, before our circumstances change. If they ever do.

B. The way it changes, is it helps us to submit to God, and accept His will.

C. When we humble ourselves, God exalts us. That can mean our circumstances change or not, it really doesn’t matter, just as long as we are changed.