Want peace?
Wow! I love this Scripture.
Philippians 4:4-7, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice ! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." NIV
I don't know about you, but I have a lot of decisions to make. God is doing amazing things...yet with all that He is doing there is no clear cut, neon sign saying, "HERE IT IS!" At least not YET! BUT there will be. In just the right time.
In the mean time, as I find myself excited but anxious, wanting TO KNOW WHEN and HOW God is going to move, I need to feel His peace. How about you? Do you find yourself anxious? Got lots of questions? Wonder how God is going to pull off your miracle? Look at the instructions for peace found in Philippians 4: 4-7.
First, REJOICE and let your gentleness be evident to all...because the Lord is near. Rejoicing is a conscious choice. Choose to remember that the Lord is near. Let your testimony and calm gentle spirit be a witness to the world of your confidence in your God! I know for me if I choose to think about all the unconnected dots I fill my mind with uncertainty. BUT...if I choose to remind myself of WHO God is...what He has promised...What He has done and is going to do...I feel peace. It's a choice. Sometimes depending on the size of the battle I have to remind myself almost by the minute to choose to meditate on GOD!
Second, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." This is a two step process. While we remind ourselves of Who God is and that He is near, we need to turn to God and lift our concerns to Him...again choosing to NOT be anxious but rather pray. IN EVERYTHING pray and petition and present your requests to God. Tell Him your desires, hopes, and wishes. Appeal to Him. Entreat Him to move on your behalf. We need to plead our circumstances to Him and ask Him to move on our behalf.
Third, we need to closely tie step three with step two, because as we "plead" our circumstance we need to do so with thanksgiving. It's not that we have to "BEG" from God to move on our behalf, rather we rejoice knowing He will move and work all things together for our good. WHY? Because that's WHO HE IS. So as we pray, petition, and take our every need to Him...we need to do so with a heart of thanksgiving. Knowing He hears us and that when we ask in accordance with His will...we have what we have asked for.
James 1:5-6, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt..." NIV
GOD is good. He is trustworthy. So as we pray let us pray with confidence. Here's my prayer for today...if it applies...you can pray it too!
PRAYER: Father, I'm filled with anxious thought. I've rested on my own resources and strength. Please forgive me. Lord, You know the needs I have. You know all the decisions I need to make. And Lord, I desperately need YOU to move on my behalf. Provide me with ample provisions. Open wide the doors You want me to walk through and quickly close the doors I do NOT need to entertain. Thank You that You lead me. Thank You that I know You have a plan and are working everything out for me and my family. Thank You that You said I will lack NO good thing and that You have given me everything that I need that pertains to life and godliness. I can't wait to see the miracles You provide. Thank you for Your love and mercy. Fill me now with Your peace. In Jesus name, amen!
And now, as Scripture promised in Philippians 4:4-7...I feel the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guarding my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.
Keep praying until you feel it too! Have an awesome weekend!
It is all so true.. Give glory to God and be thankful.. He will move in your life.
ReplyDeleteALL Glory belongs to Him. We must not touch the Glory.
ReplyDeleteAmen! It's for Him and through Him we do all things...the breath we just took was because of Him. We give You all the glory Lord! AMEN!
ReplyDeleteGood word! Very encouraging and straight from the bible!
ReplyDeleteQuestion- What is the difference in "prayer" and "petition"
Greg...thank you.
ReplyDeletePrayer comes from the greek word "proseuche" meaning prayer or worship; and by it's implication is an oratory or outward expression.
Petition comes from "deesis" which denotes prayer, a making of a request, or supplication.
In other words...they are both very similar but one denotes more of an ernest expression of needs, the other a request to move on behalf of...perhaps the distinction is made in the "urgency" of the request.
ONE seems to be more of an approach of "here it is" the other an ernest call for God's need to move on our behalf.
That's my best guess...but I'm not an avid theologian and have never studied the major differences in "the original Greek language" Anybody else have any thoughts?
*Interpetation came from my Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Great post. It is peaceful because we don't have to worry about anything.
ReplyDeletePrayer: a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
Petition:a request made for something desired, esp. a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength
(from Dictionary.com)
Prayer is more of a communion, conversing, being with God. Petition is more of asking God for something we need.
I like that you said "That's who He is". Just that fact puts me at ease. He wants to take care of us.
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great, encouraging and inspiring post. I have talked to several people recently who are anxious about stuff. We need to leave all the stuff in God's hands and rest in Him.
Blessings!