James 4:1-3 “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

One of the human instruments that God used to teach to us about prayer was James the Lord’s earthly half brother. James was the pastor of the church at Jerusalem and was often referred to as “Old Camel Knees.” It was said that the nick name was in response to calluses that developed from his persistent practice of prayer in a kneeling position. Because of this persistence practice of prayer, James became well acquainted with the power of prayer. In verse 2 of our text, James speaks to a group of people that fail to get what they want. Their fruitless condition was not for the lack of passion, “Ye lust . . . ye kill . . . ye fight . . . yet ye have not”, but rather a lack of petition, “yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” What is it that you want or need in your life as God’s child? God said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). Jeremiah reveals two things God delights to do for His children!  The first thing that He wants to do is answer, “I will answer.” God delights in meeting the needs of His children and one of the ways that He does that is answering their prayers. He cannot answer if you do not call! The word “call” means to call out to, address by name or to cry unto. In spite of the fact that He knows our every need, He wants us to make our way into His presence and voice our need. Secondly, He wants to amaze, “shew thee great and mighty things.” God wants to show you just how great He is and what He is willing to do for His children. Many folks must have a little God because they never give Him a chance to reveal His bigness through answered prayer. God is far bigger than you think. Why not give Him the chance to prove it; break the silence, go to Him in prayer!