The last couple of months, we have talked a bit about prayer – so this month I wanted to share just a bit more along those lines. We started by talking about Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; I have meditated this scripture for three months now…and I am continually finding greater revelation on prayer!
First, we are to be anxious for nothing. I know that in June I wrote some about this, but as I have been meditating this scripture, it comes to mind again the importance to stay worry free. As much as we would sometimes like to think that worry is just a part of life, Jesus shows us that we do have control over worry. Worry is a condition of the heart. When our hearts are troubled, we are worried. Jesus says in John 14:1, Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. Here, the subject of the sentence is YOU. He is speaking to you! You let not your heart be troubled! Paul supports this in Philippians 4:6 – YOU “be anxious for nothing…” How do we take worry? Jesus says in Matthew 6;31, “Do not worry saying…” We take on worry by saying that which troubles our heart! As I continued to meditate on this, I wondered, is it possible to worry in prayer?
The end of 2010, I made a big leap of faith and closed my business in San Diego to be full-time on the mission field. This meant a huge loss of income for my family…and we did not have any monthly commitments that would help us with the loss of that income. I would go to God in prayer saying, “Lord, I need finances to pay my bills. I have the electric payment due next week, and I have no money. I know you said you will provide, but I have nothing…” God showed me this is nothing more than worrying about my need in prayer. I was concentrating and meditating on the lack and the need, not on God's Word concerning my provision. God tells us to be worry free! So how do we become worry free? Jesus says we take worry by saying – yet Paul tells us by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. If I am going to be worry free, I need to make my prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in the finished work of Jesus at the cross.
When I know what God has done for me in Christ Jesus, I can come with my need, rejoicing that God has ALREADY provided what I need! Now, instead of saying, “God I have this electric bill due and I have no money to pay it – how will I manage?” I say, “God, I have this electric bill due, and Your Word says that you take care of my every need in Christ Jesus! Your Son went to the cross to provide everything I need in life to fulfill your call on my life! So, I rejoice in that provision! I thank you that my bills are paid, and every need I face you have provided for in Christ Jesus!” Now the focus of my prayer is no longer on my need, but on God’s provision! I begin to see in my spirit the need met! And that is more real to me than what I see with my natural eyes.
I encourage you today to keep your eyes on God’s Word in prayer. Yes…God wants us to come to him with our needs and desires. But we are not to come in worry, but in faith. We are to come with thanksgiving that the answer already has been given by the Cross of Jesus Christ! Thank you for your prayers of faith for us and the ministry in East Africa! God is faithful – he has provided all things for us to be successful in the life and in His call!
Together we really DO make the difference!
First, we are to be anxious for nothing. I know that in June I wrote some about this, but as I have been meditating this scripture, it comes to mind again the importance to stay worry free. As much as we would sometimes like to think that worry is just a part of life, Jesus shows us that we do have control over worry. Worry is a condition of the heart. When our hearts are troubled, we are worried. Jesus says in John 14:1, Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. Here, the subject of the sentence is YOU. He is speaking to you! You let not your heart be troubled! Paul supports this in Philippians 4:6 – YOU “be anxious for nothing…” How do we take worry? Jesus says in Matthew 6;31, “Do not worry saying…” We take on worry by saying that which troubles our heart! As I continued to meditate on this, I wondered, is it possible to worry in prayer?
The end of 2010, I made a big leap of faith and closed my business in San Diego to be full-time on the mission field. This meant a huge loss of income for my family…and we did not have any monthly commitments that would help us with the loss of that income. I would go to God in prayer saying, “Lord, I need finances to pay my bills. I have the electric payment due next week, and I have no money. I know you said you will provide, but I have nothing…” God showed me this is nothing more than worrying about my need in prayer. I was concentrating and meditating on the lack and the need, not on God's Word concerning my provision. God tells us to be worry free! So how do we become worry free? Jesus says we take worry by saying – yet Paul tells us by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. If I am going to be worry free, I need to make my prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in the finished work of Jesus at the cross.
When I know what God has done for me in Christ Jesus, I can come with my need, rejoicing that God has ALREADY provided what I need! Now, instead of saying, “God I have this electric bill due and I have no money to pay it – how will I manage?” I say, “God, I have this electric bill due, and Your Word says that you take care of my every need in Christ Jesus! Your Son went to the cross to provide everything I need in life to fulfill your call on my life! So, I rejoice in that provision! I thank you that my bills are paid, and every need I face you have provided for in Christ Jesus!” Now the focus of my prayer is no longer on my need, but on God’s provision! I begin to see in my spirit the need met! And that is more real to me than what I see with my natural eyes.
I encourage you today to keep your eyes on God’s Word in prayer. Yes…God wants us to come to him with our needs and desires. But we are not to come in worry, but in faith. We are to come with thanksgiving that the answer already has been given by the Cross of Jesus Christ! Thank you for your prayers of faith for us and the ministry in East Africa! God is faithful – he has provided all things for us to be successful in the life and in His call!
Together we really DO make the difference!
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