Consider To Whom You Are Praying.

Some prayers are designed to move the hearer rather than God. Sometimes when say we are praying for a thing what we're really asking/hoping is that those who read our "prayer letter" or hear our "testimony" are moved by it to meet the need for which we claim to pray. We are not really asking God to meet the need. We're wondering if, by saying we're asking for God to meet the need, there might be somebody who will do it for Him.

To pray and ask God to meet the need would be, as George Mueller suggested, to not tell people what the need is.

Those especially in "dependent" type ministries, such as itinerant ones, have been conditioned to see answers to prayer in the form of gifts and offerings from God's people, especially in the churches. A Prayer letter or report letter might then subconsciously become an appeal to people for needs rather than an actual expression of dependence upon the Lord.

Certainly the Bible teaches that God answers our prayers most often by moving His people. I am in no way suggesting that, to receive an answer to prayer through the gifts, offerings or actions of people, is to not receive an answer to prayer. My point is one of the heart.

•       Do we not have to be careful that our hearts are more dependent upon the giving culture of Christianity rather than upon the Lord?
•        Is it not true that we might easily convert our Christian faith into another one of the myriads of religions?

Christianity is not man centered but God centered. Let’s keep our prayers directed to Him.