*Text: Phil. 4: 6-7*
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." NKJV.
Prayer is a mighty tool in the hands of a Christian. When we come to God in prayer, we step beyond ourselves and enter into conversation with the God of the universe. In the book of Hebrews, it states that we should "come boldly to the throne of grace." Imagine... weak and broken, we can come to God's throne with boldness knowing that He will hear us.
Our text is an admonition to us that rather than grumble and complain over any matter, we should bring such matters to God in prayer Rather than be anxious or worried over any matter, we should bring such matter to God in prayer. Nothing is beyond God, nothing is beyond the ability of God and so we can be rest assured when we bring our burdens to Him, that we are coming to the one who can roll away the burden thereby giving us total victory over them. Note however from the same text that our prayers and supplication must be accompanied with thanksgiving.
If our prayers will be done rightly, then we must allow for quality time to give thanks to God by acknowledging what He has done and also giving thanks to Him for that which He is yet to do that we are believing that He will do. Prayer is not just about us asking and asking, it is also about offering quality worship and thanksgiving to God for who He is and for His great works in our lives and around us. When thanksgiving is absent in our prayers, it is evidence of selfishness and self-centeredness, such prayers are not likely to receive the desired attention from God.
Unfortunately, many times we come to God with our wish lists and plans, all the while missing the greater blessing that thanksgiving makes available to us. As we come to God in prayer and lay before Him our thanks and petitions, we begin growing in our faith. Another very important point to note about prayer is that our goal in prayer should not be to seek the fulfillment of our personal will and desires but rather the fulfillment of God’s will and desire for our lives.
As we share with Him our hearts desire, we should sincerely seek His desire for us and key fully into it even if it means dropping our own desires. When we pray with this type of attitude and mindset, we will find that many times in prayer, it is not our situation that is changed, but rather it is ourselves. Because prayer does not only changes things, situation and circumstances, prayer changes us as well.
What joy to know that we can lift our voice to God and in return find hope, peace and a life forever transformed. Shalom
Prayer Points
1. Father thank You for loving me and allowing me to speak to You today. Because of Jesus, I am able to come to You directly and know that You are listening.
2. Father I give thanks to you for all that you have, all that you keep doing and all that you are yet to do but intend to do in my life. Your name be praised forever in Jesus name. Father, please continue to change my heart and mind into that of Jesus.
3. Father I lift up my family and friends who may not know You. Give me an opportunity to share the Gospel with them today. In Jesus' name. As I engage the weapon of prayer more and more in my life, I ask that my life will be changed more and more such that ultimately I will be the person you want me to be in Jesus name. Amen
See you later
Christ has made it possible for us to access the throne of Grace, all we need to do is draw near