PRAYERFUL REQUEST

Philippians 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. Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV

Prayer is the privilege of people who are saved by grace through faith in Christ. For by His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, He tore down the dividing wall between God and us, and then gave us access to His throne of grace to find help and mercy in time of need. We are exhorted not to worry about anything, but instead to pray confidently about everything.

When I read these verses this morning, I saw something fresh. Paul is instructing us to stop worrying and go to God with prayer and supplication. Then we are to thank Him for the answer. But Paul says nothing about receiving deliverance, a word of direction, miracles, or healing. Instead, he says that we receive a gift: the peace of God. God answers all our requests and supplication with the gift of His peace.

So how do we shed our anxiousness? Well, God tells us that we should pray to Him with thanksgiving and make our request known to Him. Stressed out? Pray. Worried? Pray. Anxious? Pray. I think at times our problems look so big because we have taken our focus off God and put all the focus on our problems. He is so much bigger than our problems. He's our healer, our provider, our shelter, our everything, so sometimes we need to remember whom we should be focusing on.

All praying people have one thing in common: no matter how bad we may feel going into our secret closet of prayer, we come out filled with His peace. Many of us wrestle with the Lord in prayer. We petition Him with many tears, we pound heaven's gates, and we claim every promise. But as the days, weeks, and months go by, we begin to wonder. Why won't He hear us? What's blocking our prayer? The fact is God already has said to us, "Here! Here is My peace, and it passes all understanding. Take it and let it rule in your heart while I work all things for your good!!!"

Father, thank You for this day and that You know all things and that You know everything about us. Lord, let Your abundant blessings flow over us and our family today. Lord, thank You that You hold today in Your hand and our future is secure in You. Lord, thank You that we can cast all our cares upon You, for You care for us. Lord, thank You that You are known for doing what seems impossible. Lord, we bring our requests to You and in faith trust You to meet our every need. Lord, thank You for covering us in Your peace while we wait for Your answers to our prayers and Your direction in our lives. Lord, use us to be the light to those who are lost in the darkness of this world today.

Father, we love You. Amen.