Proverbs 15:8. The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
When you pray, do not pray like those who do not know God. Jesus taught us not to heap up empty and repetitive words, because the Father already knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:7-8). God is not interested in eloquent phrases but sees beneath the words and knows the intentions within us: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).
This is why David confessed, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). Sin held onto in secret hinders prayer. Bitterness blocks peace. Unforgiveness quenches the Spirit. When we approach God harboring revenge or pride, we are not aligned with His heart.
Prayer begins by yielding to His desires above our own. Scripture reminds us that unanswered prayer often comes from pursuing selfish goals rather than God’s purposes (James 4:3). Your Father loves you too deeply to give you what would ultimately harm you. Instead, He desires to give you the very best — His own Spirit. Jesus said, “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).
Even our Lord Jesus modeled this surrender when He prayed in Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). He prayed again, fully submitting to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:42).
His entire life of prayer was built on the words He taught us: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This is what pleases the heart of God: not a prayer that demands our own will, but one that joyfully embraces His. We have been given everything through His Son. There is nothing to ask for, except for the kingdom of God.
The early church understood this. Under threats and persecution, their prayer was not for personal safety but for boldness to proclaim the gospel: “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). Their deepest longing was for God’s kingdom to advance. Their confidence was in Christ, not in comfort.
God has already lavished every spiritual blessing upon His children in Christ. In His presence there is rest, joy, peace, hope, and abundance. He delights in you. Therefore, do not approach Him like a beggar. You have full access to the throne of grace by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-20). Your identity is no longer defined by sin, Satan or hell. You are a beloved and honored child of the Most High God!
So pray like one. Pray with confidence. Pray with expectation. Pray with a heart aligned to His mission. Do not give up when you do not see immediate answers. Jesus promised that God “will bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night” (Luke 18:7). Keep praying with persistent faith. Keep praying with shameless audacity.
You have been born from above. Therefore, pray for the things above. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and trust that everything else will be provided in God’s perfect time (Matthew 6:33). When you pray in alignment with the throne of the Triune God, the kingdom of darkness trembles. People living in despair will encounter the light of the gospel through you. God will move in ways that surpass understanding and change the world around you.
Let your prayers please the Lord. Let your heart be fully His. Let your life be a testimony that God delights in the prayer of His children.
Prayer. Father, help me pray not as a beggar but as Your beloved child. Align my heart with Your will. Strengthen my faith so that I may ask confidently and live boldly for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.