verse 3

James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

So, if you pray for your own desired outcome to please yourself, you’re praying with the wrong motive.  You have permission to pray for anything, but there’s no guarantee that Jesus will answer you.

This is what my wife does.  She starts by asking Jesus what He would like her to pray.  She then prays for what He wants, and to this very day I don’t know anyone, who God answers more than my wife.

She doesn’t get answers every time, because, like all of us, sometimes she prays for her own desired outcome.  Ask Jesus what He would like you to pray, and He’ll answer you.