A thought provoked by discussion in my prayer class may be encouraging to others, so I offer it here.
It is often said that one can offer no prayer too small to the Lord, and this is indeed the case. There is no circumstance in life too insignificant to not warrant seeking the glory of God at that time. Our Father who is in heaven has called us to pray without ceasing! However, there is no prayer request so great, so important, so worthy of petition that it can rightly be offered in a self-centered way.
Look hard at the prayers you offer the Lord, listen closely to your words. Do you hear every request being directed to the glory of God, or are they full of personal requests which desire little more than to make your own life easier? Something as seemingly simple as a prayer for a headache can glorify God if you desire the Lord to act on your behalf for the purpose of better fulfilling His will, not your own desires. Conversely, the greatest spiritual endeavor, if offered to the Lord in a way that focuses on self, will bring only displeasure to our Lord.
Pray, then, in this way, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
