“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3 ESV)

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” (Prov. 21:13 ESV)

What to do:

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 ESV)

Quote:

“God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed to death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; they outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” - E.M. Bounds

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10 ESV) 

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:16 ESV)

 What to do:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)

 Understanding God’s will 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

 Quote:

“In prayer we can approach God with complete assurance of His ability to answer us. There is no limit to what we can ask, if it is according to His will.” - John F. Walvoord

“If God doesn't want something for me, I shouldn't want it either. Spending time in meditative prayer, getting to know God, helps align my desires with God's.” - Philip Yancey