Samuel 1:11b

We see another example of these principles laid out in James. Here Hannah is the exact opposite of the people that are being addressed in the book of James. They are selfish, however, Hannah is praying not only for what she wants but also for something that would be a blessing to the Kingdom of God. She understands that God is the giver of all gifts. She prays not with selfish motives, but with a view towards blessing God, others, and herself.

Consider: Philippians 2:3-5

1 Samuel 1:11a

We see Hannah looking to God in faith. The story of Hannah is at first heartbreaking. She is mocked by her sister wife and has no child. She remembers the faithfulness of the Lord and cries out to Him in her need, trusting that He will hear the cries of His people. In Exodus 3, we see God looking upon the need of the people and answering. To pray in faith is to believe that God hears, sees, and responds to our prayers and needs.

Consider: Exodus 3:7-9

James 1:5-8

Here James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we need to ask the Lord to give us wisdom. However, we are warned to pray with faith. The topic is wisdom, but we see another principle of prayer in this passage.  Do you believe when you pray? We must believe that God can give us the things we pray for that are good and proper according to the Word of God.

What are you saying about God in your heart if you do not believe when you pray? The issue is your understanding of the Lord and who He is! James gives strong rebuke. We see we must pray, pray properly, and pray believing we trusting in God.

Consider: Proverbs 3:5

James 4:3

There are some in our world who have a “name it and claim it” mentality about prayer. While we may need to pray for a car, we do not need to pray that the Lord may give us the most expensive car made. The Lord is not like a Santa Claus who just goes around giving away free things we want. James speaks of asking wrongly. You are not to be asking just to fulfill your passions.

Note well the balance between James 4:2 and 4:3. First James is asking if are you praying, then he asks why are you praying. What are your motives? Are you just asking for what you want, or are you humbling yourself before the Lord and asking for God to bless you with things according to His will?

Consider: 1 Peter 5:6-7

James 4:2

We are reminded here in James of the need to go to the Lord in prayer. I think too often we feel that we can only go to God for things of great importance. We learn from the world that we do not bother important people with small things. However, we are told by our Heavenly Father to bring everything to Him in prayer.

The example that we are to understand is like a Father and his small child. A Father loves his child and wants to know what a child needs even if it is something small and of little consequence. Our Father in heaven wants us to call on Him for all things. He does this because He wants to give us what we need. He wants us to depend on Him in all things.

Are you depending on the Lord? Are you taking all things to the Lord.

Consider: 1 Thessalonians 5:19

John 13:2

     Included in this group of people was the one that would betray Jesus. Jesus knew what the devil had put into his heart. This was all part of God’s Plan. We might expect Jesus to be harsh with Judas, but we see in the next few verses that Jesus washes the feet of the traitor along with the faithful disciples.

     We see the power of the devil. He tempts us to do that which is wrong. We are told if we will resist the devil He will flee from us (James 4:7 ). We see the very nature of God and Satan in this verse. One is tempting us to sin and rebellion against God and the other is overflowing with mercy.

     We must follow the example of Christ in loving even those the world considers unlovable, and we must resist the devil and the evil he would tempt us to do.

Consider: James 4:6-10

John 13:1

     John 13-16 is called the Upper Room discourse. This is the last time Jesus is with his disciples before His betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. This is just before Passover. Jesus knew this was coming and He is preparing His disciples for the terrible thing they were about to witness. He loved them, and He loved them to the end.

     He spends these chapters dealing with the traitor among them and teaching them about who He is and what He is doing. It will end with the great high priestly prayer of Christ in John 17.

     We see in this verse a transition. Jesus is turning squarely towards the events that will bring us salvation. He is going willingly, like a lamb to the slaughter, to die for our sins. He will save us from eternal death and separation from God.

Consider: Acts 8:32-35