The Abuse Of Prayer And Spiritual Gifts. There are two mistakes we can make in relationship to prayer. The first is failing to ask. The second is more serious: Asking selfishly for what we want – even if what we're asking is contrary to what God wants. James talks about these two problems. "... ye have not, because ye ask not... Ye lust ... and desire to have, and cannot obtain... Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss ( selfishly, wrongfully), that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (Jas 4:2,3)