James 4:3 NKJV "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."
As years end, we make plans for the new one; we also begin to make our requests known to God in prayer. I hope you have begun to do that: don't start the year without plans and expectations; start now if you haven't.
But to ask God for something is one thing, to receive from Him is another. Also, it's one thing to make plans, and another for you to achieve them. As we have read, one major reason why we don't receive from God is because we want to spend on OUR pleasures instead of HIS own pleasures. Prayer and fasting with wrong motives is a waste of time!
So you desire that 2014 be a better year; why? Just so you can have more members in your church or fellowship and be more famous, increase the finances and capabilities, and probably earn more respect? Or so you can have more money to do whatever you want whenever you want and be more recognised in society? They may not be bad reasons; but do you think they are projects God would consider financing?
We were created for God's pleasure and for His glory. In other words, your first priorities should be to please God and to glorify Him. To receive swiftly from God, attach God-pleasing/glorifying motives to your requests and goals. Let pleasing and glorifying God be the foundation upon which every other thing is done. Not only that, beyond making requests that please God, let Him also be pleased with you! All things were commanded to hear Jesus because God was pleased with Him. Do as I've advised.
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