Gimmee, gimmee, gimmee. Selfishness is a child’s natural response to his world: I want it, so I must have it. This trait is unattractive in children, but it’s even uglier in adults. And most of us would have to admit that it still rears its head in us regularly.


Selfishness is exposed in our behavior, but it also appears in our prayers. Do we limit our requests to ones about us and our family, our health and success? Or do we pray for those whose interests are not even related to ours? How can we teach children to have a heart for others and to pray for others if we don’t practice this ourselves?


True selflessness occurs when our prayers do not begin and end only with self. It’s seen when our prayer time starts with a focus on praising God for who He is and recognizing how far we fall short of His holiness. It includes a time of thanking Him for His goodness in sending Jesus, and then a time of asking God to act for His glory and the good of His people.


Pray for yourself, pray for your loved ones. But don’t stop there!