When people request prayer, it is usually to seek help in time of need. So many problems we face in life are bigger than our ability to solve or fix, and God has graciously invited all who believe Him to make our requests known to God. We can make requests with thanksgiving and through Jesus enter into His rest, knowing God hears us and is able to accomplish all that concerns us today and always.
Have you noticed the frequency, duration, and fervency of our prayers typically rise in times of trouble? It struck me recently how God uses trials and difficulties to prompt us - even drive us to pray for people normally who are not in our thoughts. When we hear of tragedies and atrocities across the world we are moved to pray for people we do not know and will likely never meet. Prayer has the capacity to invite God's aid into every corner of the globe and beg Him to minister on behalf of people who do not even know Him. How glorious and generous God is, and He redeems trouble by moving Christians to pray.
In a world inundated with bad news, it is easy to lose a godly perspective. We begin to focus on the problems, man's hollow solutions, and our inability to change the world (or even ourselves!) for good. But faith in Christ enables us to rejoice in God whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 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." Trouble itself has a silver lining when it prompts us to pray.
How good it is, believer, instead of only bringing our concerns or complaints before the LORD that we praise Him for the awesome God He is. Regardless of our circumstances God remains good and unchanging. He did not save us to forsake us, nor did He purchase us to disown us. A good mother will not forget to care for her infant child, and God will never neglect us. God's love, grace, and magnificent power is beyond anything which threatens us, and His truth cannot be shaken or dissolved by a billion voices who clamour against it. He has situated our souls upon a Rock of eternal salvation, and we are kept in the hollow of His hand from harm. Even the young lions suffer hunger, but those who fear the LORD will lack no good thing. The youths will faint and grow weary, but our LORD does not slumber or sleep. Let us praise Him, the Good Shepherd of our souls!
We quickly forget how good God is when pains overwhelm us, but God is not overwhelmed. He is mighty to save, glorious in power, and unparalleled in majesty. Instead of worrying, let us be praying. And in our praying, let us make our requests with thanksgiving. Then we will know something of the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds. Stealing candy from a baby is an easy thing to do, but no trial or trouble can steal our Peace (Eph. 2:14) from a helpless child of God who cries out to Him in faith.
Have you noticed the frequency, duration, and fervency of our prayers typically rise in times of trouble? It struck me recently how God uses trials and difficulties to prompt us - even drive us to pray for people normally who are not in our thoughts. When we hear of tragedies and atrocities across the world we are moved to pray for people we do not know and will likely never meet. Prayer has the capacity to invite God's aid into every corner of the globe and beg Him to minister on behalf of people who do not even know Him. How glorious and generous God is, and He redeems trouble by moving Christians to pray.
In a world inundated with bad news, it is easy to lose a godly perspective. We begin to focus on the problems, man's hollow solutions, and our inability to change the world (or even ourselves!) for good. But faith in Christ enables us to rejoice in God whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 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." Trouble itself has a silver lining when it prompts us to pray.
How good it is, believer, instead of only bringing our concerns or complaints before the LORD that we praise Him for the awesome God He is. Regardless of our circumstances God remains good and unchanging. He did not save us to forsake us, nor did He purchase us to disown us. A good mother will not forget to care for her infant child, and God will never neglect us. God's love, grace, and magnificent power is beyond anything which threatens us, and His truth cannot be shaken or dissolved by a billion voices who clamour against it. He has situated our souls upon a Rock of eternal salvation, and we are kept in the hollow of His hand from harm. Even the young lions suffer hunger, but those who fear the LORD will lack no good thing. The youths will faint and grow weary, but our LORD does not slumber or sleep. Let us praise Him, the Good Shepherd of our souls!
We quickly forget how good God is when pains overwhelm us, but God is not overwhelmed. He is mighty to save, glorious in power, and unparalleled in majesty. Instead of worrying, let us be praying. And in our praying, let us make our requests with thanksgiving. Then we will know something of the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds. Stealing candy from a baby is an easy thing to do, but no trial or trouble can steal our Peace (Eph. 2:14) from a helpless child of God who cries out to Him in faith.
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