James 4:1-4 King James Version (KJV)
4 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Today’s Scripture Sunday focuses on why we pray and things we should avoid asking God. If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, I’ve created a series of posts called Scripture Sundays in which I focus on strengthening my faith and inspiring my fellow Christian readers.
What is the meaning behind James 4:1-4? How do we apply it?
Last Sunday I posted about the Lord’s Prayer which tells us the do’s and don’ts of praying. James 4:1-4 adds a few more guidelines.
In short, we are told not to pray for self-centered reasons like winning wars, lusting after someone, or other worldly desires of the flesh.
Praying for these worldly desires can lead to temptation and sin.