'Remove relational prayer from the centre, and every other kind of prayer goes bad. Worship becomes blasphemy - we reduce God to our errand boy; He's there to serve us. Thanksgiving becomes a disguised expression of entitlement - we thank God for what we think He really should have given us anyway. Intercession is rooted in self-interest - we plead with God on behalf of family, friends, government, and church leaders with our purposes and comfort in mind. And petitions, even apparently legitimate ones such as a loved one's salvation or a child's health, are fuelled by the energy of a demanding spirit. We hear ourselves presenting reasonable requests to God. He hears us whining like spoiled kids, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!". We have no controlling thought of advancing God's kingdom or of enjoying our privileged relationship with the King. Self-interest rules again.'

Source: Papa Prayer by Dr Larry Crabb

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