Prayer And Supplication


Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)

Meditation

If we are fearful or worried about anything in our lives, we can take those problems to the Lord in prayer. I know it’s in my nature to try to fix things in my own strength and power. Sometimes I manage, and my issues are resolved while at other times I fail miserably and only make things worse. My batting average is terrible, but God bats a thousand. Big problems like the loss of a loved one or a serious illness are the ones best given to the Lord. When I’m feeling helpless, it’s easy to give him the big problems. It’s when I’m banging my head against the wall with a trivial problem that I struggle the most. I would have a much less stressful life if I just learned to give him everything right away. He wants our little, insignificant problems as well as the big, potentially life-altering ones.
It’s only natural for us to rise to the mountain top of cheerfulness when everything is going great, only to descend into the deep valley of depression when problems begin to mount. It’s wonderful when we’re up on top of those mountains, but it’s when we’re in the valleys that we learn to rely on and grow closer to the Lord. When you give your cares to him, big and small, and trust that he will bring resolution, a peace comes over you that you cannot understand or explain. That peace of mind is real, and you can share it with others who are frantically losing their minds around you. Some will think you’re crazy for thinking you can say a prayer and think all your problems will disappear. We may not get the answer we want, but it will be the answer we need.
I’m sure there’s a person you know who’s in a valley right now. It’s quite possible they have forgotten to or don’t know how to ask for God’s help. Don’t forget to pray to God for them and teach them how to give their troubles to the Lord. He will give them relief from their fears and anxieties as well. Of course, God knows what we need but we still must humble yourself and take our requests to him. For that humility and trust in Jesus, we receive a peace of mind we cannot easily comprehend. So, what have we got to lose besides heartache and worry? We can give our troubles to God; his shoulders are bigger than ours.




Prayer Time

Father God, you are merciful and mighty. We can only marvel at the compassion you show us. Whether our troubles are caused by our own sinful behavior or the circumstances of this wicked world, you hear our pleas for help. This age we live in is desperately evil and we can either fall into temptation or be affected by others who do. We need you every day, Lord, so please, never turn your ear from us. Please, forgive us when we fail you and continue to have mercy on us. Do we deserve your ear to listen – of course not. Thank you for your kindness and for this gift of prayer. Thank you for being a God that cares enough for us that you personally intervene into our lives. Even with all your power and might, you still love us and want us to love you and rely on you for our needs. Help us to follow Jesus in all we do and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

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