Make Known Your Requests (To God)

I remember the first prayer meeting I ever attended.  I was impacted to see men taking time to speak with God together when there were many other things we could have been doing that Saturday.  It was a men's breakfast hosted at our church, and based on the location I was 11 or 12 years old.  I was a follower of Jesus at the time, but it seemed odd to gather in a circle and pray as a group - for what seemed a very long time.  Time flies away when you are in the presence of the LORD, and having matured I have grown to relish it.  Gathering with fellow believers in one accord to seek God and to commune with Him is precious.

In reflecting upon times of prayer, the best times were those spent praying.  It is ironic praying can be the very thing neglected when Christians gather to pray.  Much of the time that could be spent praying is often taken up by personal sharing or discussing how we should pray.  Isn't it strange that we have access to the Almighty God and yet we can spend the majority of time telling each other what we think He should do?  There is a place for sharing your heart with caring believers or sending a message for others to pray, but let us take literally the admonition given in 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; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Making our requests known to people should never take the place of letting our requests be made known to God.

Making our requests known to God means praying specifically and concretely.  We are able to talk much but say little, and it is a good practice to examine our prayers to insure they have a definite request.  If we reflect upon our prayers but cannot do this, perhaps we have not even asked!  Because the Word of God is true and His promises sure, if you remain anxious after praying it is likely because you have not met God's conditions.  Abiding anxiousness reveals we have not been thankful, we have not made a specific request in faith, and we have made our requests to men and not God.  When we do meet God's conditions, however, we will experience the peace of God which passes all understanding which guards our hearts and minds through Jesus.  

I exhort your brothers and sisters, in your next gathering for prayer let you requests be made known to God.  Hold back nothing from Him, and do not be afraid.  He is the Almighty God whose understanding is infinite, and His ways are higher than ours.  Who are we to prescribe the course of action He ought to take?  Share your requests with others for prayer as God leads, but do not neglect the bringing of your requests before God.  It isn't the praying of others in which we place our hope, but we trust in the God who answers our prayers and supplies everlasting peace.