Ye Have Not…
James 4
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
Ask not
ye have not, because ye ask not.
You do not have, because you do not ask.
When we have a need, too often, we look everywhere but to the Lord to have that need met. We need to learn to ask God with a sincere and pure heart and believe that he will answer.
1 John 5
14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we ask for things that are within His will for us, He hears and meets that need. In fact, He knows our needs before we ask, but He still requires us to ask. That must be to build our faith and remind us where our provision comes from.
Just ask.
Philippians 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Let your requests be made known.
John 14
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Lusts
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
We need to remember that God promises to meet our need, not our greed.
Sometimes we ask for foolish things. Sometimes we ask for selfish things. Sometimes we ask for the wrong things.
The best thing is to be Biblical about your prayers. Make sure the thing is within the will of God.
Also, seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He knows your mind and He knows God's mind. He will guide you into all truth. He helps you pray.
Romans 8
26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
John 16
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.