I got convicted by something I heard today.

How many times do I pray with my wishlist of things I need (or sometimes just really want) without a thought at all for glorifying God? How many times is my prayer all about me with little thought for who I’m praying to?

At its heart, prayer isn’t about me getting things from God, although I tend to forget that. Prayer is about getting to know the heart of God and coming to see things from his perspective.

It’s one thing to pray for healing for a loved one and quite another to pray for God to be glorified in that situation. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but praying for healing has to be about more than one person getting well. It has to be about people seeing God’s healing power and glorifying him.

Even if God doesn’t choose to heal in that situation, the key is still about God getting glory. After all, the ultimate healing can only come in heaven.

Oswald Chambers once said that prayer doesn’t change things. Prayer changes me and I change things. I think that applies when it comes to your perspective. God doesn’t so much change your environment as much as he changes your outlook on it. You’re better able to see God at work in your life.

I think I’ll start praying for God to be glorified in my life more. Regardless of whether or not I get the things I ask for. After all, God knows what I need more than I do. And what brings him greatest glory is what brings me my greatest good.

According to Rick Warren, it’s not about me. It has been, is, and will always be about God. That goes especially for prayer.