PRAY AND FAST WITH UNDERSTANDING (4).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*PRAY AND FAST WITH UNDERSTANDING (4)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

James 4:3 *Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

God does not answer all prayers.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The truth that God sees our hearts sums up the incontestable providence of God to hear our prayers according to our hearts.

It is also an indisputable truth, as often been said, that most mouths utter words different from what is in their hearts.

God told the children of Israel He would answer them according to the multitude of the idols in their hearts, Ezk 14:4.

This tells us we can not deceive God doing what is right to do on the outside yet with an inward, unclean heart.

A person with an impure heart can not please God (ref Rom 8:8).

We communicate with God in the spirit because God is a Spirit, John 4:24.

If you have the Spirit of God, God expects you to communicate with Him because by His Spirit in you, He gives you the inspiration to pray and do all things with Him.

Job 32:8 says inspiration from God gives us understanding. This includes inspiration to pray with understanding.

We must earnestly surrender our spirits to God so that we can be one with God in the Spirit.

We must know that every human being, as we are in this flesh, is triune with body, soul, and spirit, 1 Thess 5:23.

To overcome this selfish flesh, which is the principal reason for lustful desires and requests, we must be empowered in the Spirit.

This is why Rom 8:9 tells us that though we dwell in the flesh, we are not to live according to the flesh because we have the Spirit of God to subdue the flesh.

Without the Spirit of God taking over the spirit of man, he is not of God. Rom 8:9 says, *".....if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.*

To refuse to seek God for direction is to ignore the Kingdom benefit of the Spirit's leading made available to guide us in all truth, John 16:13.

Do not be too hasty to jump into fasting and prayers without seeking the Spirit's guide.

The Spirit's guide will save us lengthy, laborious, and unfruitful time that could have been fruitfully fulfilling if only we sought His direction in the first place.

Fasting and prayer long or short will be an issue if God is not in it.

Therefore, it is worth the wait to ask God before we launch into spiritual warfare.

Let God lead and you to follow!

*Remorse corner.*

There is a spirit in you. Make good of it. Make it fruitful by making it one with God’s Spirit.

Job 32:8 *But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.*

*Call to Word action.*

To follow your spirit without God’s Spirit is to pray without inspiration. You can not please God this way!

Romans 8:8 *So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Remember that though you are living in the body of flesh, you do not need to obey its inclination because you have the Spirit, Gal 5:16.

Rom 8:9 *But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.*

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to bring my spirit in subjection to the Spirit of God. Help me to do this so that l do not ask amiss to consume upon my lusts, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and be blessed as you go today.

God bless you.