"Let's just pray" It is a phrase that I am very familiar with as all through my childhood, no matter how big or small the issue at hand, we took it to the Lord in prayer. My parents raised us with a deep faith in God and a strong belief in the power of prayer. Even as a adult when I would call my Mom crying or broken-hearted over things I was facing, she would listen wholeheartedly and as soon as appropriate, without fail would always say "Let's just pray." Today we are examining Philippians 4: 6 and 7. We will discuss what it says about prayer and the advice it gives about incorporating prayer into our daily lives. The NIV Bible phrases these verses this way: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Let's look a little closer at these verses together. Do Not Be Anxious About AnythingDo not be anxious about anything. Wow! Now that is a TALL order indeed. This is most likely because it seems there are more people suffering from anxiety these days than ever before. It is normal and common for us to worry about situations yet, if not kept in check our worries can easily escalate into anxiety. In our own humanness it is easy to get nervous about our concerns, but when we learn the practice of channeling our stress into heartfelt prayers, carrying our burdens becomes a shared experience, not a solo act. It is so much easier to feel peaceful when the load is shared. Pray About Every SituationIn this verse we are told to pray about EVERYTHING! I remember hearing of a debate between two elderly women, named Hazel and Edna. The heated debate was about what to pray and what NOT to pray about. Hazel shared with Edna a huge list of everyday things, as well as some more serious needs that she committed to prayer each and every day. Edna responded with immediate disapproval in regard to what she deemed the "minor issues" on Hazel's prayer list. Edna said in a condescending tone "Hazel, you don't pray about little things! God is way too busy to care about those! You only pray about BIG things!" With a twinkle in her eye, Hazel cleverly clapped back "Sorry Edna, but you are wrong there! Don't you know the God we serve? Everything is a little thing to Him?" Way to go Hazel! She is right. If it matters to us, it matters to God, so bring all your needs to the foot of the cross. Nothing is a BIG thing to him! He can do anything. The Bible says actually that he can do more than we could ask or even think, and all requests are important to our heavenly father. Present Your Requests With ThanksgivingWhen you pray, consider it handed over to God and thank him in advance for what he is about to do in you, for you and through you, in regard to your requests. When my daughter Shannon was very young, I asked her to pray about a tricky situation our family was facing. In her sweet little voice, she prayed a touching little prayer over the situation. Right after she closed with an enthusiastic AMEN, I proceeded to tell her AGAIN how worried I was about the issue. Shannon promptly cut me right off mid-sentence and said, "Now Mommy, we JUST prayed about that, now stop worrying!" Wow! Wise words from a little one. She sure told me. The Peace of God Will Guard Your Hearts and MindsWhen we take our struggles to God in prayer, we have now taken the issue from trying to handle it in the "natural realm" to instead harnessing the unlimited power of the "supernatural realm." Prayer changes things. There is peace in knowing that God now has it in his very capable hands. There is such a sense of relief that comes when we invite God to take control of our situation as we can then experience what the Bible says is called "the peace that passes all understanding." It is to our benefit to incorporate prayer into our everyday routines for so many reasons. If you are not familiar with how prayer works, or don't know how to start, you are not alone. Many have felt that way. Do not worry about formalities. Just speak from your heart. God is your friend, so talk to him the way you would a trusted confidant. I encourage you to harness the power of prayer in your life. Develop a daily prayer routine. It is a proactive and positive way to address your issues with the best Problem Solver out there! It will change your life. I guarantee it! Tuck that in your heart today!
Tags: prayer, prayer time, Why should I pray? Philipians 4:6-7, pray for me. pray for you, the power of prayer, pray about it, let's just pray, prayer changes thingsCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana/ walkingintheword
2 Comments
4/6/2024 11:10:09 am
Wise words from that little Shannon--a perfect example of the child-like faith Jesus taught!
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Dana
4/7/2024 11:21:48 am
Yes, for sure! Funny sometimes how our little kids can teach us big lessons. Thanks for sharing.
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