Think about the world system a moment. It tells us what we should have, how we should look, what we should wear, what we should do, what we should buy, what we should eat, what we must do to be acceptable to it. But who makes up all these rules? Ever thought about it?
To try to be acceptable to the world, many have resorted to conflict. Ya'akov/James 4:1-2 (AMP) says, "What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fighting) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet (what others have) and your desires go unfulfilled (so) you become murderers. (To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.) You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain (the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek), so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask."
This is a powerful statement that we do not have because we do not ask. How many times have you stopped and listened to someone pray a great and flowery prayer that requested nothing? I've heard it so many times I cannot count. How many times have we failed just to get down on our knees and ask G-d for what we need? It's a very logical thought that if you start asking more, you shall receive more. In fact, our hearts should be in a constant state of prayer. We are admonished in I Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing."
Yochanan Aleph/1 John 5:15 (AMP) says, "And if (since) we (positively) know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that we have (granted us as our present possessions) the requests made of Him." And if we know that we have what we ask then we shall see it manifest. But what if we waver and have no trust? We shall see nothing.
Ya'akov/James doesn't stop there. He continues by asking other questions. Ya'akov/James (AMP) 4:3-5 says, "(Or) you do ask (God for them) and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is (when you get what you desire) to spend it in sensual pleasures. You (are like) unfaithful wives (having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to nor purpose that says, 'The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit (to be welcome) with a jealous love?"
What is asking wrongly exactly? It's praying our will instead of G-d's. We often ask for what we want instead of what He wants. I have learned in my walk with the L-rd to pray that His will be done. How do we know His will? His will is His Word. This is how we know we are to be healed. We are to live in abundance. We are to be in health and prosper as our souls prosper. etc. etc. This is a good reason to study the Word, so you can know what G-d's will actually is.
While praying for a physical issue for someone, the L-rd stopped me and asked me a valid question. "Are you praying for this person or for My healing desire for all men to manifest?" It was a disturbing question. Admittedly I had been praying for the person. And the L-rd said...."If you will only change the prayer to be about My will, healing shall manifest quickly."
What is friendship with the world? It's trying to attain in a system that is without G-d. It's going to another source than G-d Almighty for one's needs and desires to be met. If you look to your job as your source of supply, you'll get disappointed if you lose your job. If you look to medicine as your source of health, you'll be disappointed when it has no answers to bring you healing. And if you look to the lottery to solve your financial woes, you'll be disappointed when you purchase ticket after ticket with no win.
G-d is jealous over His children. He does not want us going to another source outside Himself. His desire is to be our Source of supply. Why? Because He knows how to give to us in ways that won't run out and won't destroy us. He knows how to bring healing when there are no more answers. He knows how to provide when everyone is out of a job. Think this is not true? He lead 3 1/2 million Jews, all unemployed, through a desert for 40 years and they all had clothes, health and food.
Ya'akov/James 4:6 AMP continues, "But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh; to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace (continually) to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it)."
What is true humility? It's looking to G-d as one's Source.
I've met many people over the years who have arrogantly gone around announcing themselves humble. But the problem is, they haven't turned to G-d fully and that in itself is arrogance. It is the grace of G-d that meets the needs that we have. Without turning to G-d, we shall not get the grace.
I believe true prosperity in G-d is having your needs met, whatever they are. It's never being in lack of what one needs. It's nothing missing and nothing broken. That means if you need a tooth healed....the tooth is healed. If your brother needs a car, G-d provides a car. If your wife needs an extra $50 for groceries, G-d will provide it. It's having whatever you need when you need it and having enough for others when they need it too. Maybe you have a need to have supernatural protection in a situation or a legal matter settled....whatever it is, G-d will provide and this is true prosperity. And if you seriously are needing a million dollars, I believe with all certainty that G-d will provide it if you submit yourself to Him and pray right.
Does G-d want you to seek your supply in the lottery? No. He wants you to seek your supply in Him.
We must make changes in the way we think. Ya'akov/James AMP 4:8-10 says, "Come close to God and He will come close to you. (Recognize that you are) sinners, get your soiled hands clean; (realize that you have been disloyal) wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts (of your spiritual adultery). (As you draw near to God) be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep (over your disloyalty). Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame (for your sins.) Humble yourselves (feeling very insignificant) in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (He will lift you up and make your lives significant)."
There is untapped power in prayer today simply because people are praying their wills instead of G-d's. But if you will stop and ask yourself, "Is Yeshua the reason I am praying this prayer? Is the answer to this prayer going to bring Yeshua glory?" You will get the prayer right and have great success.