“Many, if not most actions, materially good in the world, are done more because they are agreeable to self, than as they are honourable to God. As the word of God may be heard not as his word, I Thess 2:13, but as there may be pleasing notions in it, or discourses against an opinion or party we disaffect; so the will of God may be performed, not as his will, but as it may gratify some selfish consideration, when we will please God so far as it may not displease ourselves, and serve him as our Master so far as his command be a servant to our humour; when we consider not who it is that commands, but how short it comes of displeasing that sin which rules in our heart, pick and choose what is least burdensome to the flesh and distasteful to our lusts… He that doth the will of God, not out of conscience of that will, but because it is agreeable to himself, casts down the will of God, and sets his own will in the place of it; takes the crown from the head of God, and places it upon the head of self. If things are done, not because they are commanded by God, but desirable to us; it is a disobedient obedience; a conformity to God’s will in regard of the matter, a conformity to our own will in regard of the motive; either as the things done are agreeable to natural and moral self, or sinful self.” (Stephen Charnock)
Do we pray because we truly seek the face of God out of love or because we want something from God?
Do we pray because we want to be seen as spiritual and holy more than we want to actually be spiritual and holy? Do we pray with the strength of self because God commanded it rather than love God and His glory in the world?
Does it please us to pray because we have found the face of God and have seen His glory or to do our duty?
When we pray, do we really seek the things from God because they glorify Him or for some motive of self?
Do we pray for some things simply because we see that they are biblical rather than truly desire them?
Are there things we pray for that we really don’t want God to give because of selfish considerations?
Do we pray at times with fervor and feeling and yet confuse the things we are asking for with desire for God?
Do we pray for the things that are easy for us and not for the things that would be hard for us?
Do we pray for things for God to do them rather than willingness for Him to do them through us?
Do we use prayer as an excuse not to do things that we don’t want to do?
Do we pray to be holy and yet refuse to seek to die to self, self-love, and self-centeredness?
Do we pray for God to send revival because we want bigger churches rather than more of God and His glory?
Do we pray for revival for some excitement or so God can show that He favors us and we are right?
Praying for revival is easy if we think of it is just words offered into the air. But if true prayer comes from hearts that love and desire God and His glory, then it will be seen as a Divine activity in the soul rather than the exertions of self. True prayer for revival must be spiritual prayer and not the words that can come from the flesh or simply be turned on or off so we can be religious when we please. True prayer for revival will only begin when our hearts are broken from self, the things of self, and the religion of self in order to seek God. Revival is not just something that happens, it is when God Himself comes and walks in and among His people. We cannot truly desire true revival unless we desire God Himself. Until our hearts desire God above all things, we don’t truly desire revival. Until our hearts are willing to die to all else (even religious things) and seek Him as the true hunger and thirst of the soul, we will not desire or pray for true revival. The Great Commandment is to love God with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength. Until we pray in keeping with the Great Commandment our prayers will be out of the love and strength of self. We are to have fervent prayers, but fervent with the love of God in our souls rather than love for the things of self. In Luke 22:44 we see Jesus in agony praying fervently. Until our hearts have enough discomfort to seek God’s glory in revival, God will not be moving in us as He does before He sends revival. We must seek Him to grant us hearts with a holy focus on Him to truly pray for revival. True prayer for revival will cost pain in the heart, death to self, and many trials. Do we really want to pray without any reserve for revival? In Jesus’ prayer of agony, He submitted all to God so the glory of God would shine. That was true prayer. We must learn it by experience. Christ is our altar now, but we must lay all (not some and not most) on the altar to truly pray. His agony of soul in laying all down to go to the cross must be worked in us to pray as He prayed.
God Loves... Himself 
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