我們應當在神面前求，但是還得有個條件，就是不可妄求。『你們求也得不著，是因為你們妄求。』（雅四3。）我們只能因為有需要而向神求，不能毫無理由、出乎範圍之外隨便的求。不可憑著自己的情慾、肉體，隨便的在那裡妄求我們所不需要的事物。不然的話，也是白白的禱告－許多時候，神所給我們的是『超過我們所求所想』（弗三20）的，但那是另外一件事。
妄求的意思，就是出乎你的度量之外、出乎你的需要之外、出乎你的真實缺乏之外的求。你有需要，你能求神。你所需要的只有這麼多，你就求神給你這麼多。越過你所需要的求，就是妄求。你有大的需要，求神照著那一個需要給你也行。如果需要沒有那麼多，而求那麼多，那就是妄求。總要憑著你的度量要、你的需要、你的缺乏去求，而不是隨意的要這樣、要那樣。隨便求就是妄求，就得不著神的答應。在神面前的妄求，等於一個四歲的小孩子對他的爸爸說，『我要天上的月亮。』神不歡喜人妄求的禱告。每一個基督徒，應當學習在你正當的範圍裡禱告，不要妄開大口，越過你實際的需要。
We should ask, but there is an another condition to prayer; we should not ask evilly. "You ask and do not receive because you ask evilly" (James 4:3). We should ask God out of necessity. We should not ask mindlessly, unreasonably, or wildly. We should never ask carelessly or evilly for any unnecessary things according to our lust or our flesh. If we do, our prayers will be in vain. While God often gives us "superabundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20), asking evilly is a different matter.
Asking evilly means asking beyond one's capacity or real need. If you have a need, you can ask God. But you should only ask God to take care of your need. Asking beyond what you need is asking evilly. If you have a great need, it is not wrong to ask God to satisfy such a need. But if you do not have a great need, and you ask for it, you are asking evilly. You can only ask according to your capacity and need. You should never ask foolishly for this and that. Asking carelessly is to ask evilly, and such asking will not receive any answer from God. Asking evilly before God is like a four-year-old child asking his father for the moon in the sky. God is not pleased with evil asking. Every Christian should learn to confine his prayers within the proper scope. Do not open your mouth rashly and ask for more than you actually need.
