Our identity can't be found in owning certain things but in belonging to God as his beloved (Eph. 1:1-14). God doesn't give us what we want, but he does, and has, given us everything we need and more in Christ Jesus. Because of this, our hearts should overflow not in covetous discontent but in thankful praise.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3; NIV).
Both passages, the one from James and the one from Matthew, both underscore that God wants to give us good gifts, the gifts that will help us, the gifts that we need. He takes His time. He's never in a hurry. He knows the perfect time to give us those gifts, and they are always good and perfect.
Simply put, sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers because we are praying for the wrong things. And we may not be doing this out of malice, either, so much as out of ignorance. Perhaps we don't know enough of God's Word to know his will.
2 Peter 1:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
Paul tells us: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
We cannot hope to appease God by working our way into righteousness, nor sacrificing others for our own sin. Instead, Micah listed out the three principles of what God asks of His people: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him.
James 4:2 In-Context
2 You want something, but you can't get it. You kill and want what others have. But you can't have what you want. You argue and fight.
Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm.
Everything will happen in His timing. God knows what is best for you and He hears the desires of your heart. He will give you the desires of your heart when the time is right.
God wants to give you a purpose. He wants to bestow divine wisdom on you. It's not like God is holding out on you to make you miserable. He desires you to have a joyful, ambitious, purposeful life.
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl.
The promise of Romans 8:28 that God works for our good “in all things” is reassuring. It means that no matter the circumstance, there are only two qualifiers for God to be working all things together for our good.
“God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able” (1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB).
Galatians 6:9
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Yet these are some of the many things we put great importance on today. We focus on these elements—and others like them—at the expense of what God requires. What does God require from us? He wants us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8).
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ' This is the first and greatest commandment.
The most obvious answer to the question, “How can I know God's will for my life?” is to ask Him. Turn to God in prayer and ask Him what He wants you to do. God wants you to go through the process of seeking His will without believing the lie that He is trying to hide it from you.
1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.” We all must use money. However, having money or spending money cannot be the end goal.
God really does care for our needs. Peter reminds us that we are to cast our cares on the Lord because he cares for us. Jesus tells us not to be anxious about these things because God knows what we need and will provide. This petition calls us to remember God's goodness and to be content with what he has provided.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts. unto your children, how much more shall your Father which. is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Through my personal journey, God has taught me this key truth: God may not give you what you want, but He will always give you what you need. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Second, Paul says in 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything." In other words, not only let your actions be guided by the law of love, but also let them be guided by the law of liberty.