Our Motive in Prayer

In his book Secrets of a Prayer Warrior, Derek Prince lists eight ‘Basic Conditions for Answered Prayer’. Before focusing upon one of these, let’s first affirm that God can answer our prayers anytime, and in every way He chooses – He doesn’t have to wait until we meet any condition before answering our prayer. In fact, God can do more than we could ever ask, or even imagine to ask. Paul writes,

“…to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

My own experience in being healed from cancer is God doing immeasurably more than I prayed for, or could imagine to pray for. Besides being brought back to health, as I certainly prayed, God increased my faith, delivered me from unbelief and fear, and continues to give me many, many other gifts. I thank God for all of these gifts, humble that there are many I am not even aware of.

I’ve listed Derek Prince’s eight conditions below, along with supporting scripture. Rather than calling these ‘conditions of answered prayer’, let’s think of these as eight ways to ‘align ourselves with God’s will and Word’. Alignment seems a much more accurate word to me, because it is our alignment and aiming we seek – God is perfectly straight and true. We seek our our prayers to echo Jesus’ “not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Let’s first focus on one of the eight ways to align ourselves with God. While reading the story of David and Goliath this morning, the fifth alignment on the list – Have the Right Motive – was illustrated beautifully. Our motives are always to be for God’s glory, never for our own personal or selfish desires. Jesus explains our motive for God’s glory best:

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

Some other verses in scripture for God’s glory:

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalms 115:1)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. (Psalms 86:12)

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

In 1 Samuel 17:45-47, David reveals his motive is for God’s glory, and explains it perfectly to Goliath (I’ve added the bold font):

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

David isn’t fighting Goliath for his own fame or fortune, for Saul’s daughter, for esteem from Israel or attention from his brothers, or for any other personal reason – he’s fighting and knows he’ll defeat Goliath purely because “the battle is the Lord’s”.

Wow, think about it: When we find the Lord’s battles, we are unstoppable.

Our prayer this morning is to become more aware of God’s will, so that we may do it for His glory.

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Our motives are always for the glory of God, but remember God is love, and all good things come from God. Accordingly, there are personal benefits to glorifying Him.

Salvation is obviously the primary,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (Romans 5:2)

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. (James 1:17-18)

But also,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

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Here’s the complete list of Derek Prince’s ‘ways to align ourselves with God’s will for answered prayer’, from the book Secrets of a Prayer Warrior, available on Amazon:

1. Come with reverent submission

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7)

Jesus says, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

2. Have faith

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

3. Pray in the name of Jesus

Jesus says, ” I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.  You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” (John 16:23-24)

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

4. Approach God boldly

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16)

5. Have the right motive

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. (James 4:3)

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13)

6. Forgive those who have hurt you

Jesus teaches us to pray, “and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against” (Matthew 6:12)

Jesus teaches, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25)

If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalms 66:18)

7. Be directed by the Holy Spirit

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. (Romans 8:26-27)

8. Ask according to God’s Word and His will

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalms 119:105)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)

Amen.

Agree or disagree? Please let me know.