1 Samuel 16:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
You need the right motive when you pray. Do not focus on the external. God is more concerned with the inside. He is more concerned with your heart. God sees more than what man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. God looks at the heart.
Dear Father, Search my heart. Search my intentions and motives. You are concerned with why I want what I pray for. Guard my motives. I do not want to ask with wrong motive. Help me to not be self centered. Help me to ask for your glory, Lord. When my prayers are answered, they bring glory to you, Lord. May my faith give glory to God. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen.