The Loop

A couple of weeks ago Matt asked us a question: “If you could request God do one thing for you, what would it be?”

This question initially seemed so simple to me but my mind spun. ONE thing? I ask Him for things all the time.

No restrictions, no limitations—just one request. What would it be? More wealth? A promotion at work? Healing for a loved one? Or would you pray for something larger—perhaps the salvation of a friend, or the wisdom to serve others more effectively?

It’s a daunting question I’ve been wrestling with. Especially because so many of my asks are selfish.

I’ve had to try and reimagine what prayer is - it’s a transformative tool (that we get to access freely all the time - how cool is that!). We want the Lord to transform our hearts, situations in our friends’ lives, and fears of our family members.

It’s not wrong to pray for God to meet our needs—after all, Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). But what if we pushed our prayers beyond our personal needs? What if we made it a habit to pray for others and their connection/interaction with God? In 1 Timothy 5:5-6, we read about a widow who “puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.” She lives in desperate need, but she also models a prayer life focused on dependence on God, not self-indulgence.

I have to stop and point out that I know this isn’t easy. Praying unselfishly is not something I do well. But I’m extremely grateful that we have a God who loves us through all of our prayers and attempts.

In James 4:3, we are warned, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  It’s a sobering thought: our prayers can be misaligned with God’s purpose when we ask for things simply to satisfy our own desires or to elevate our own position.

So, who are you praying for? Are you praying for your own comfort and gain, or are you praying for the spiritual needs of those around you? Prayer is powerful, but its power is not in getting what we want—it is in aligning our hearts with God’s heart.

In the end, the ultimate goal of our prayers should be the glory of God and the furthering of His kingdom. We can ask for personal needs, but we must also remember that prayer is a tool for transformation—both in our own lives and in the lives of others. We are invited to pray for the lost, for justice, and for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let our prayers reflect the heart of a servant—humble, compassionate, and always seeking the good of others and the glory of God.

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