Last week during my devotional time, I was reading Mark 10:35–45, and verse 37 stuck with me:
“Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
—Mark 10:37
At first, I thought, Wow, James and John, really? Were they trying to elevate themselves? Seeking status?
But then the Lord gently turned the question back on me:
What’s the motivation behind your own prayers and requests?
That hit me. Am I asking for things to glorify Him—or to benefit me?
I thought of the persistent widow in Luke 18. She kept asking the unjust judge for justice, and Jesus praised her persistence. So yes, we’re called to keep praying and not give up. But then Jesus ends that parable with a question:
“When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
—Luke 18:8
So here’s the tension:
Are we praying with faith—or just asking for what we want?
Philippians 2:3–4 reminds us:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…”
That’s a heart check. Are our prayers rooted in humility—or in “gimme” mode?
Jesus responds to James and John in verses 38 and 40:
“You do not know what you ask… to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give…”
He wasn’t rebuking them for asking—but He was pointing out that they didn’t fully understand what they were asking for.
So no, I’m not saying stop praying or stop asking. But maybe we pause and ask ourselves:
- Is this prayer about His glory or mine?
- Am I trusting God—or telling Him what to do?
- Am I praying with gratitude or with frustration?
Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours. Even when the answer is “no” or “not yet,” He’s still good. He still knows best.
So let’s keep praying—boldly, persistently, faithfully.
“Pray without ceasing.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:17
But let’s also pray with the right heart. Not out of vanity or selfish ambition, but to grow closer to God, to intercede for others, and to align our hearts with His.
When we do that, not only will our relationship with God deepen—but our relationships with others will too.
angelaschmeling 