James 4:2b–3 You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (hedonism).

We know the importance of prayer. Jesus and James both speak of the absolute truth about the power of prayer. Jesus says:

John 14:14 (ESV) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Here, James shows us what hinders our prayers. Of course, it is perfectly logical that God would evaluate our prayers. Once he told John and James, “You do not know what you are asking.” In Chapters 1-3, James taught us that our behavior including our prayer life should be based on the Royal Law of Love. Unfortunately, sometimes our attitudes are less than godly.