Have you ever done something good, but with the wrong motive? Maybe you showed kindness to someone, but you did so in hopes that they would repay the favor. Maybe you did the right thing, but you did it to gain others' approval (or avoid disapproval). Because our motives are often hidden from others, we may tend to think the motives behind our actions are insignificant. Our motives may be unseen by others, but they are not insignificant to God. As we heard in the weekend message, “motives matter to God.” He cares not only about our actions but also about the hearts behind them. Make no mistake, we must take our motivations seriously as we approach our God in prayer.
James challenges us to search our hearts and motives as we pray in James chapter 4. Earlier this week, we read verse 2, which says, “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” What a reminder to us to always turn to God in prayer rather than try to live our lives on our own. Next in this chapter, James turned the conversation to the motives of our hearts when we pray. He said, “Even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you only want what will give you pleasure” (verse 3). Let this rebuke from James settle over your mind for a moment. Just as important as the words we pray when we turn to God are our motivations behind them. Perhaps our motives might be hindering our prayer lives. You see, in our selfishness, many of us tend to view prayer as a means of getting the things we want that bring us pleasure. The truth is, prayer is not about us. It is about communicating with the God of the universe and asking for His will to be done, not ours. The greatest example of this kind of surrendered heart-posture is found in Jesus’ prayer, which He prayed in Luke 22. This was a prayer prayed by Jesus right before His arrest and crucifixion on the cross. Knowing what awaited Him, Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine” (verse 42). Jesus did not ignore His own grief over the agonizing pain He was about to face, but His motive never wavered as He prayed: to see God’s will done over His own. What an example He set for us!
If we want to grow in our prayer lives, we must examine our motives every time we come to Him in prayer. Are we praying with our own desires and pleasure in mind, or are we surrendering our will for His and considering others and their needs above our own? May each one of us search our hearts and surrender our own motives, desires, and hopes to Him.
For the next few minutes, think about your recent prayers before God and the motives behind your prayers. Acknowledge any selfish motives you have prayed with before God. Acknowledge that more than anything, you want His will to be done and His name to be honored with your life. Ask Him to help you surrender your own will and desires to Him.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, You see through to the heart behind my motives. Search me…”
1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
The Last Supper
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.
36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”
38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”
“That’s enough!” he replied.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
