PRAY EVERY DAY - Day 5: Pastor Ryan Shook
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“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
God has given us exclusive access and an extraordinary promise. He invites us into a deep connection and assures us that we will be cared for. And the care that God brings us is beyond anything we might be able to comprehend. His love for us surpasses any earthly understanding and becomes an overwhelming force to bring us peace. That is what Philippians 4:7 promises us, “Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” God offers us true peace: A heavenly peace that will bring great rest to our weary souls. But remember, God is looking for partners in this. He invites us to actively join Him in seeing His promise complete. So, how do we engage with God to see His promises come through?
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado
Max Lucado makes a striking point. The power to see our prayer come through is not in our words or our actions but rather in God’s. This should be a relief for us, but often, it can cause us anxiety to not be in control. We want to be able to say the right words, pray long enough or strong enough to get God to move. But the power isn’t in our words. The power is in very capable hands.
Our role in prayer is much simpler. The result of peace and serenity through Christ comes from surrender. The critical key to understanding verse 7 in Philippians chapter 4 is found in the verse before, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”. God is calling us to simply rest, not worry, trust, and be thankful. What a tall order!
Worries should lead us to God. Typically, they have us running around physically or mentally, stressing about what will come next. God’s cure for this sickness is to stop… rest and surrender. The world is full of busyness, and in the heart of that, we, as Christ followers, are encouraged to stop worrying and tell God what we are thankful for. This takes the focus off ourselves and reminds us that He is above all things. It is by His hand that we are made strong. He is the shepherd that will guide us and care for us.
The path to peace comes through prayer. Naming your worries and concerns to God, presenting them to Him so He may do what He needs with them. Then, our attention should focus on how thankful we are to God. This will change the way you pray and live.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.