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.
More Devotions
When Elijah cast his cloak over Elisha in the field, it wasn’t just a symbolic act — it was a divine call. Elisha understood this and responded not with delay or excuse, but with decisive action. After asking to say goodbye to his parents, he returned, slaughtered his oxen, and used the wooden yokes as fuel for the sacrifice. Then he gave the meal to the people and walked away from everything familiar to follow the prophet Elijah.
Elijah had just come through one of the most intense seasons of his life. He had called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, seen the prophets of Baal defeated, and yet found himself running in fear from Jezebel, exhausted and discouraged. In the cave at Horeb, he cried out, believing he was alone and that all was lost. But it was there—in the still small voice—that God revealed His presence and His plan.
Over the weekend, the United States launched a bold operation aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear program. In the quiet of the night, unseen by human eyes, B-2 Spirit bombers initiated Operation Midnight Hammer—a precision strike designed to eliminate hidden threats before they could bring harm. With unmatched stealth, they cut through the darkness, delivering a decisive blow against danger.
Every true move of revival begins where few look for it—at the hidden brook, in the quiet place of God’s pruning. Cherith (נַחַל כְּרִית) means to cut off, to separate, to covenant. Before Elijah could stand on Mount Carmel and call down fire, he had to be separated, set apart for God’s purposes.
Before God’s servants can stand in high places before men, they must first bow low before Him. Elijah, fresh from proclaiming God’s judgment to Ahab, might have felt indispensable to God’s plan. Yet the following command was unexpected: “Hide yourself.” The brook Cherith became Elijah’s place of humbling, where pride was stripped away, self-reliance was broken, and his soul learned the sweetness of depending on God alone.
God’s servants must learn to walk by faith–one step at a time. This is a simple lesson, yet one that challenges even the most faithful. Consider Elijah: before he left his quiet home in Thisbe to stand before King Ahab with the word of the Lord, how many questions must have stirred his heart!
As we continue our journey through the life of Elijah, let us take heart in this: Elijah was a man just like us. He was not born with heroic strength or unshakable resolve. He knew weakness, fear, and moments of failure—the same struggles we face. And yet, this one man, by faith, stood alone against a tide of sin and idolatry. By faith, he turned a nation back to God.