Most often when we find ourselves in a difficult situation and looking for answers, we believe that we should go immediately to prayer. I understand that, but I wonder if it would be advisable to check out God’s Word first because there is really no need to pray 
about something that is violating His Word. Here is the thing: the Word is pretty black and white in most places and doesn’t allow for interpretation for convenience. Unfortunately, we often skip the truths of God Word and just “pray” about it (or say we do) because we have a desire that we want God to agree with not interfere with. What we are really trying to do is to make God a co-conspirator in our sinful decisions.
As Christians we know we should pray, so we tell people we’ve been 
praying to give legitimacy to our desires. But this is a ruse. We know, intrinsically, that if our desire is outside God’s word any answer that affirms it, would not be of God. Three areas that might be answering our prayers would be our own flesh, the world around us, or the devil. If it is violating God’s word it might be one of those or all three, but it is certainly not God. God is not a liar and he will not violate his own Word.
An example might be if man decides he’s going to run away with his secretary, but because he’s a Christian he naturally has to say he’s been praying about it. Running away with the secretary obviously violates God’s word, so why is there a need for a prayer of confirmation. If we are not sure what God’s Word says we should pray and consult it, but in many cases we know what the Bible says, we just don’t agree with it. So as a cover for our sinful decision, we say we’ are praying about it.
Does the thief in the alley have more legitimacy if he prays about it before mugging a little old lady. That bogus prayer might fool other muggers but not spirit-filled Christians. People who “pray” about a sinful act before acting on it are fooling no one but themselves . It’s a sad commentary on today’s Christianity that we do so 
many things that violate God’s word under the guise of looking to him for advice. 99% of God’s teachings are in his word. When we get outside of his word we are easily fooled by our feelings, by our desires, by our wishes because all of those are so strong in our lives.
I’m reminded of Ebeneezer Scrooge in the “Christmas Carol” when he sees a ghost and doesn’t believe it’s a ghost because he says it could just be the result of a bit of meat that he ate that night. That could be true with us as well. We get this feeling or we get this idea or we get this prompting that it’s OK to do something obviously wrong. Well, that’s not the Holy Spirit. 
If we are violating the word of God in some way I can guarantee it is not the Holy Spirit supporting our decision. He never prompts us to do something that is against God.
So we need to be careful. We need to be careful as Christians that we consult the Holy Word of God in our decision-making. If someone thinks that they should pray about watching porno every night that’s foolishness. Pornography violates God’s Word and to
take it to prayer is akin to asking your pastor if you should steal a car next week. I think we know what the answer would be. So I would say this- always be ready to pray but don’t take something to God that you know violates the principles of his Word because He has already given you His answer. Any other answer is what you want… not what God wants. Don’t go through Satan to get your answer. If you read the Word, the only prayer you may need to pray is thanking God for protecting you against a major mistake!
