You do not have because you do not ask God

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:1-3

There are a number of points within the verses of James 4:1-3. And, while it wasn't written in our current century, the words are 'real' for all of us walking this earth today.

We can be combative with strangers, family members and friends. Words and actions can get out of control with regretful decisions and actions carried out. If we try to pray for the person/situation, we have to be honest about the words we are using. Are we asking God to fix the other person?

Social media seems to have raised the 'coveting' of others to a whole new level. We 'see and read' what others look like, own or where and what they might be doing that looks so inviting in comparison to our own lives.

What was the last prayer you sent up to our Heavenly Father? What was the reason for the prayer? Was it in earnest for yourself or for others?

As James points out, there is a difference in 'how' and 'why' of asking God through prayer for something. What is your motive behind your prayer request? If you pray selfishly, it shows that you are trying to use God for your purposes, rather than seeking to fulfill His purposes. When Jesus walked the earth, he clearly taught that prayer is not to get our will done on earth, but to get God’s will done.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NIV

Prayer is not so that we can use God; it is so that God can use us!