Selfish Prayer
July 21, 2025
I had a heart posture check from the Lord in my prayers a while ago, and it has shifted the way I pray, especially for others.
Prayer for God to heal someone’s heart is not inherently bad. Not at all. But here’s the question He asked me:
Are you praying for them, or for yourself?
Is it, “Lord, heal their heart… (so that they’ll be easier to talk to, nicer to me, more patient with me)”?
Or, is it: “Lord, heal their heart so they can walk in the fullness of who You created them to be”?
And that was a humbling check.
Because anyone I pray for; friend, partner, family member, or even stranger; is first and foremost God’s son or daughter. Before they are anything to me, they belong to Him.
And I have found that as I pray with that lens, it has changed the game in terms of compassion and true genuine desire for God to work, for God to be glorified above all.
It becomes:
“God, You love them, and You have so much for them. Would You heal them, strengthen them, grow them, fill them with Your Spirit and Your Fruit? Not just for my sake, but so they can experience You more fully and be greater vessels for your glory?”
Even prayers like “Give them patience” or “Give them strength” can carry selfish motives if we’re not careful.
Patience for what? Strength for whom?
Is it so I’ll be more comfortable? Or so they will be more Christlike?
So, Lord, make them more like You - for their sake, so that they can be the greatest versions of vessels for You, for Your glory, and for the sake of the kingdom.
