Life Plan Devotion #113 [Get prayers answered, 4th condition, Part II]

Perhaps you've thought or said, in the past, "I prayed and asked God for [such and such], but I didn't get it." While there may be a different reason why God did not answer your prayer in the way or timing you wanted, one soul-searching reason is given in James 4:3, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (NIV). For example, if you are apt to be a spendthrift, if money tends to "burn a hole in your pocket," God may choose to postpone a "yes" answer to your prayer of additional money, until you get your spending habits under control. When God blesses us with wealth, He expects that a portion of the money be tithed and offerings given for His Kingdom work.
One of the best stories in the Bible about praying with the right motive is one we wouldn't think of in that way, at first. It's the story of the raising of Lazarus, one of Jesus' dearest friends. While I encourage you to read the entire story found in John 11:1-44, I'll focus on selected verses.
Some people say that one should not pray to be healed of a sickness, citing part of John 11:4, "...it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (NIV). Let's look at the entire verse (and in context). "When He heard [that Lazarus was sick], Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.'" Was Jesus confused? Lazarus died, after all. No, He wasn't confused. He knew that Lazarus would die, and what He was going to do. He waited two more days, after hearing that Lazarus was sick, just so no one would be able to say that Lazarus wasn't really dead. The sickness was not for God's glory, for sickness is a tool of Satan. The raising of Lazarus, the power that Jesus Christ demonstrated, to show that He has power over sin, sickness, and death--that was for God's glory.
I love how Jesus, once again, mentions the importance of faith, of believing Him. Martha, Lazarus' sister, reacts to Jesus' command to "Take away the stone" (verse 39) by stating the obvious, "But, Lord,...by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Jesus says to Martha something He says to each of us today, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
When the stone to Lazarus' tomb is rolled away, "Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me'" (verses 41-42). Then "Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'" (verse 43). Did you ever wonder why Jesus used Lazarus' name? Jesus' words are so powerful that had He said, "Come out!" every dead body would have been resurrected!
What was Jesus' motive in praying for the resurrection of Lazarus? Was it because He loved Lazarus? We know He loved Lazarus, because verse 3 tells us that "the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.'" Yes, Jesus loved Lazarus, but that wasn't His motive for raising him from the dead.
Was Jesus' motive for raising Lazarus a response to Martha saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (verse 21)? No, that was not His motive, for Jesus even tells Martha, "Your brother will rise again" (verse 23).
Perhaps Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead because He was moved by Mary, who "fell at His feet...weeping" (verses 32-33). Verses 33 and 35 tell us that "He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled" and "Jesus wept." Jesus was moved with compassion, yes, but that was not His motive for raising Lazarus.
Jesus' motive for raising Lazarus was so that those who were present "would see the glory of God" (verse 40). That must be our motive when we pray, also. If our motive is greed, God will not hear and answer. If our motive is to try to manipulate God's provision, God will not hear and answer. If our motive is to try to merely find relief in our circumstances (for the sake of relief), God will not hear and answer. Our motive must be to bring honor and glory to His name.
When you pray, asking in faith and with the right motive, you "ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name" (I Chronicles 16:29, NIV), and you'll be able to echo the words of II Corinthians 1:20, "...Through [Christ] the 'Amen' is spoken by [me] to the glory of God" [Note: Words in brackets added by author, to clarify meaning.] Pray with the right motive, for the glory of God, for His name's sake, and your "Amen" ("so be it") will get an "Amen" answer from God ("So be it!").

What this has to do with weight loss: What is your motive for losing weight? Perhaps you want to live longer, have a better quality of life, be more active, alleviate pain in your body. Those are all valid motivations, but just think of the extra power and motivation if your number one motive would be to lose weight to bring honor and glory to God, and praying to that end. It's something to think about.

Confession:
I pray with praise and thanksgiving, in the Name of Jesus, and with the right motive--God's glory. When God answers my prayer, I tell others, giving Him all the glory.

Life Plan Devotion #112 [Get prayers answered, 4th condition, Part I]

John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (NKJV).

Before we begin today's devotion, I want to tell you, dear reader, a few things. First of all, I want you to know how happy I am that you are on this journey with me. Second of all, I want you to know that I am on this journey, too. Do not think that I "have it all together," because I don't. I need to be reminded of these truths, just like you, and I need to allow my belief to influence my behavior.
Of the 7 basic conditions to answered prayer, we have looked at the first three:
1) Pray in the Name of Jesus.
2) Pray with praise and thanksgiving.
3) Pray without known (unconfessed) sin in your life.
Today, we will look at the fourth condition: 4) Pray with the right motive, which is God's glory. The word "glory" means "splendor, honor."
In Isaiah 43:7, God tells us why He made us: "...whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made" (NIV). God tells us Who He is, in Isaiah 42:8: "I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another..." (NIV) and, may I add, we'd better not, either! I have seen people unable to hold on to their healing (a major answer to prayer), because they failed to testify for God, to give Him all the glory, to tell others what God did for them. Giving God all the glory is very serious business.
Does it give God glory, when we call upon Him in difficult times? Absolutely. God urges, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15, NKJV). In Psalm 79:9, the psalmist Asaph prays, "Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake" (NIV). It brings God glory, when we call upon His Name. When He answers our prayer, He expects to receive all the glory.

What this has to do with weight loss: I've read many accounts of amazing weight loss, with a long list of goals met and victories experienced. I'll be honest, though, that when the author does not give God all the glory, I fear that he/she will end up as a re-gainer. Even for those who feel they've done all the work on their own, they haven't. It brings God glory to help us bring our bodies under submission. As we partner with God, He puts His Hand of blessing upon us. If we try to go it alone, however, and do not give Him the glory He deserves, He must withdraw His Hand of blessing. Trust me, Godpower is much better (and long lasting) than willpower.

Confession:
I pray in the Name of Jesus, with praise and thanksgiving, and without any unconfessed sin in my life. In difficult times, I call upon God, and He delivers me. That gives Him glory, and I attribute to Him all the glory, for setting me free.