Stop Praying. Look.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! (Exodus 31:1-5 NLT)

When God wanted to have a tent (tabernacle) built,  He gave people the skills necessary to build it.  Not only that, He provided other people the financial resources (gold, jewelry  etc.) needed to build it.  They pulled their resources and skills and did what God was calling them to do.

So Aaron said, "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me." All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (Exodus 32:2-4 NLT)

The same people used the same skills and the same resources available to them to turn against God.  There intentions may have been good, but their actions were bad.  They wanted to worship God, but instead they made a statue worshiped it instead.  They used their skills and resources in the wrong way.

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. "Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.' (Matthew 7:20-23 NLT)

Prayer is simply a conversation with God.  What kind of conversation do you think you will have when God is looking at you and your life?  God is Holy.  How about you?  Do we really think God is going to be interested in giving us what we want when we show by our lives that we're not interested in what He wants?

Maybe what we should to is stop before we pray and take a good look.  Look at God.  Look at yourself.  Look at your life.  Before we go to Him with our task lists of things for Him to accomplish, we should look at  His task list for us to accomplish...then do it.

"Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash." (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)