To his Christian readers, James continues to argue that they are living according to the wisdom of the world. The key problem identified by James is that these believers in God refused to trust Him to provide for them. It was not easy for them to accept that if God did not provide it for them, it was something they could live without. To provide for themselves, they would rather hurt someone else.
Covetousness often manifests itself in hidden manipulations and blatantly evil actions, which can even be disguised as pious prayers. However, God does not acknowledge prayer that is born from an envious heart, nor does He respond favorably to our petulant pleas to satisfy our own fleshly desires.
When we ask for His help in a humble way, displaying love and trust for Him and seeking His will, our Heavenly Father answers our prayers. As we pray, let us delight ourselves in the Lord and pray properly by aligning our wills with God's so that we may have a fruitful life and live in complete contentment, to His praise and glory.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me and making our relationship based on what You can do for me. As I pray, I want to do it right and to pray according to Your perfect will. Help me to focus my eyes on You instead of being anchored to this world with all its covetous thoughts. Make my ears ever open to Your voice that I may pray in truth and proclaim, "Thy will be done."
In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.