James4:3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. NLT
I was discussing with some people recently about how greed and selfishness has entered our prayer lives. I have been in prayer meetings where the prayer leader told us to pray that God should bless us more than our siblings, I have heard prayer points that insinuated that our family members should be calling us 'daddy', they shouldn't be able to perform any family function without our presence.
Well, most people love to pray such prayers because they want to prove a point to their families and some only need plenty money so that everyone would be subservient to them. To them, that's success. Those impure motives are the reason why God hasn't answered our prayers until now. If you're praying that you should be better than others, you will always be below them. Thats a fact! God doesn't want you to compete with others but rather, he want the best for you.
If God refuses to bless your siblings and families, you won't enjoy your money because you will have to bear all their financial burdens. In fact, if they don't fear God, they may kill you so that they'll inherit your properties, don't forget this is Africa and such happens. From today, eliminate selfishness and greed from your prayer life, you'll get better results that way. Learn to pray for others what you're praying for yourself.
The principle of watering others to be watered in return is still in effect. Water others in prayers and you'll remain ever-green.
Father, I eliminate selfishness from my prayer life today and forever In Jesus name.