Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Philippians 4:4-7 – Knowing God – Guard Your Hearts And Minds – Growing As Disciples
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. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
Present Your Requests
I’m not hearing many actual prayer requests from you. You are not asking me for very much. Why is that? Do you think that I may be too busy to hear and answer your prayers? Do you think your prayers may come as an inconvenience to me? Do you not want to bother me with your requests? Do you think that you are not worthy to have your prayers heard and answered by me? Are you so busy that you just don’t have the time to pray? You don’t have to answer all my questions immediately. I do want you to think deeply about what I am saying to you.
Is your life so under control that you don’t need my help? Now, I can’t let that question go by unanswered. That is a question I don’t need to take time to answer. I didn’t think so either. You’ve seen my life. Yes, I see your life from beginning to end. I take notice of every detail of your life on every day of your life. Have you noticed that I am full of worry and anxiety? Yes, that’s exactly why I started this conversation with you about your prayers. What do you have in mind? What do you think I have in mind? You don’t want me to carry worry and anxiety through life. No, I do not.
I want your life to be filled with joy. I want you to have peace that is so full and deep that you can’t even explain it. I want you to have my joy and peace no matter what circumstances you face in life. How is that possible? You tell me. I don’t know. Well, do you want to keep carrying your worries and anxieties through life? No, I don’t. What can you do with your worries and anxieties? I can give my worries and anxieties to you. I can turn each one of my worries and anxieties into a prayer to you. Yes, you can. Now if you did that, you would be asking for a lot more from me in your prayers. Yes, I would. That is exactly what I want to hear from you. I want you to ask me for all that you need. I want you to come to me to rely on me in your prayers. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, I have held on to anxious worries. My joy has been robbed. My ability to rejoice has been limited. I know that you are near to me and ready to hear my prayers. I will turn all my worries into prayers to you so that your peace will guard my heart and mind. Amen
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