James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss [with wrong motives], that you may consume it upon your pleasures.
Recently, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made headlines by canceling 146,000 U.S. government credit cards, a decisive step toward more effective resource management. This move not only underscores the importance of trust and proper usage in handling responsibilities, but also carries a hint of irony as many of these cards had their credit limits reset to just one dollar, emphasizing the strict controls now being enforced.
Imagine you’re an employee at a major corporation, and recognized for your dedication and trustworthiness. One day, you’re given a company credit card for work-related expenses, symbolizing your employer’s trust in your judgment for the company’s benefit.
Similarly, those of us who follow Yeshua (Jesus) are part of God’s “company.” We’ve been entrusted with a powerful tool—prayer, akin to a company credit card. When we ask for things in Yeshua’s name, it’s as if we’re making a purchase on behalf of the Kingdom. We receive what we ask for as long as it serves the Kingdom’s interests.
However, why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? James offers a revealing insight: we often ask with wrong motives, aimed at fulfilling our own desires rather than the Kingdom’s needs.
So, the next time you pray, pause to consider if your request aligns with the benefit of the Kingdom. Pray with sincere faith and the right intentions, trusting that God will respond. If you’re unsure, seek God’s direction to ensure your prayers match His will, aiming for the ultimate good of His Kingdom. And remember, the great advantage of our “company credit card” in prayer—there’s no spending limit!
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
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As a pastor who has traveled extensively and also met and ministered to believers from all walks, backgrounds, and denominations, I feel I have a unique perspective on what is happening in the world and among the Body of Christ.
As I look at the big picture, I have noticed that since the recent war broke out in Israel in October of 2023, several ministries that have played a key role in Israel’s spiritual revival have come under intense attack.
So often when I’m counseling someone, he speaks of his life as a life of struggle and even defeat. But what is our true spiritual reality? The Bible describes the enemy as ALREADY defeated! We who are walking as pilgrims in this world, fighting on a daily basis, are fighting a defeated enemy. Let that sink in! He has already been defeated … even though throughout our entire lives we’re in combat with the enemy of our souls.
People read this verse, and think God is telling them to be passive — to overlook what happened. That is not a bad thing — but it isn’t exactly what Yeshua (Jesus) was saying. Turning the other cheek is not about being passive. It’s about being active! So active that it actually confounds your enemy! Turning the other cheek is about taking an action so revolutionary, so shocking, so out of the ordinary that it shocks everyone around. It confounds the world — and can also change it!
In the 4th century lived a Christian named Telemachus, in a remote village, tending his garden, and spending much time in prayer. One day, he believed he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome, so he obeyed, setting out on foot. Some weeks later, weary from his journey, he arrived in Rome about the time of a great festival.
Nature provides us with an illustration that closely parallels the insidious tactics employed by our adversary. According to scientists, Arctic polar bears feed almost entirely on seals. To enjoy such a meal, they sometimes resort to a cunning bit of trickery.
Whew! What must the disciples have felt back then as they saw the waves crashing against their boat? They we’re being swayed from side to side in the deep dark sea. They were afraid for their lives! But our Lord was there all along. He just wanted them to trust.
One of my heroes of the faith, Watchman Nee, once said something profound about entering the rest of God. He said, “Carnal Christians crave works; yet amid many labors, they are unable to maintain calm in their spirit. They cannot fulfill God’s orders quietly as can the spiritual believers… their hearts are governed by outward matters. Being “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40) is the characteristic of the work of any soulish believer. They have not yet entered the rest of God.”