The Motivation Behind the Prayer

Psalm 67

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: with ^(A)stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 May God ^(B)be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to ^(C)shine upon us, Selah
² that ^(D)your way may be known on earth,
    your ^(E)saving power among all nations.
^3 (F)Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you ^(G)judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
^5 (H)Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

⁶ The earth has ^(I)yielded its increase;
    God, our God, shall bless us.
⁷ God shall bless us;
    let ^(J)all the ends of the earth fear him!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+67&version=ESV)

What is our motivation behind our prayers?  Do we really want God to bless us so that He can be glorified or are we looking for the glory for ourselves?  So many good men/women have prayed for blessings, gotten them, and then fallen.  David was one of them.  Even though he knew the Lord, loved the Lord, and praised the Lord, he didn’t do everything right in the Lord’s sight until he repented.  Solomon, who prayed for wisdom and was granted it, caused his kingdom to fall because of his lack of commitment to the Lord.

So many times we want blessings but it is for our gain and not the Lord’s gain.  Next time we pray for a blessing let us examine our hearts and know if it is to give God the glory or ourselves the glory.  Next time we pray for a blessing on another person or family let’s make sure that we want that blessing because it will bring glory and honor to the Lord not for the fulfillment of the family.

As you seek Him, know that He is full of abundance and that abundance and mercy is what we need to share with others.  God should be praised, are we praising Him?  God should be feared, are we in awestruck fear of Him?

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila