Prayer is our source of strength as Christians. It is our connection to God, how we let Him know our thoughts, desires, needs, and wants. Prayer needs to be something that we do regularly, not out of obligation, but rather as a deep desire to know and commune with God.
Context for today’s Scripture
Prayer as a life-line - This means it is a last resort reserved for crisis. While it can be useful in this context, that cannot be the only time that we pray!
Prayer as daily, hourly necessity - This is what we should strive for. Consistent connection with God. Every. Single. Day.
- It is not something that is going to happen overnight.
The book of Philippians:
Practical purpose of the letter - to thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent to Paul during his time in prison. Also, to strengthen and encourage them in their walks with Jesus
True joy in contrast to the world’s view of happiness
This is a consistent theme throughout the entire book of Philippians.
However, today’s message is not about the entire book of Philippians. We are zooming in to just 2 verses.
Philippians 4:6-7 “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This is literally one of my favorite passages of scripture in the entire Bible. In light of some of the most challenging situations that I have faced in my life, these verses have consistently given me courage and strength to endure through hard times.
Part 1: Do not be anxious
“Do not be anxious about anything…”
- This is how today’s verses begin. It is not the beginning of the letter to the Philippians (it’s actually the end of the letter), but simply the beginning of God’s Word to us this morning.
If you do feel anxious: What are the things in your life that you are holding on to? What are the things that are slowly eating away at your ability to commune with God consistently throughout the day?
- Job, kids, finances, family drama, interpersonal conflict, health concerns are all potential sources of anxiety…IF we don’t take each and every one of them to the Lord in prayer. We will get to that later.
- What are you doing to address that anxiety? Reach out to people, talk to your discipler, bring it up in life group, be vulnerable with other believers.
If you do not feel anxious: What are you doing to help spread the joy that you are experiencing with others?
- When we are on a mountaintop, that is such an excellent opportunity to reach out to and encourage others. If we look at Paul’s example, he did this both on mountaintops and in valleys. How many letters did Paul write from prison?
Bottom line: Anxiety is something that does not benefit us. It is something that as Christians, we need to recognize and eliminate from our lives.
Part 2: In everything pray
“…but in EVERY situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…”
- Not in one situation, not in some situations, but EVERY situation
- Which situations are you holding back in? What is preventing you from taking it to God in prayer. Jesus has the power, ability, and desire to take them all.
How?
- By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving
- Not with reluctance, not with fear, not with anything except for thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that the literal creator of the universe is willing to hear our pleas and He cares about our concerns.
- He is a good father. That phrase may be a loaded phrase for you (“good father”), but we need to break the mindset that our earthly experiences may have created.
- By prayer and petition - This is the core of today’s topic!
What?
- Present your requests to God
- He wants to know what is on your mind. Not because He doesn’t already know it (remember that He is God, He literally knitted you together in your mother’s womb).
- He wants to have a relationship and conversation with you.
Part 3: What are the results? (Peace guards you)
“…And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- How do you experience peace?
- God’s peace is something that we have access to constantly. He is never far away.
- Not only is God’s peace present, but it literally guards us. God’s peace is what protects us from the negative attacks from the enemy.
So let’s get serious about prayer. It’s not optional. Either we do and we grow or we don’t and anxiety wins the battle for our hearts and our minds.
