Worry or Prayer

Introduction

Over the next couple of weeks I want to talk about prayer. Throughout my time in the hospital, my family and I can tell you that we truly felt the power of prayer. In fact, I believe one of the only reasons I’m alive is because people, godly people, all over the world were praying for me.

We all know that prayer is important, but the question is how many of us just give “lip service” to prayer?

Before my heart attack, I was often one of those people who said they were praying, but often ended up giving lip service to prayer rather than really praying.

If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn to , and we’ll begin reading with verse 4—

“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.” (, NIV84)

Rejoice in the Lord

Paul tells us that we are to rejoice—that means to take joy in the Lord. You and I are to find out satisfaction, or our “happiness” in Jesus.

In fact, it is so important that Paul repeats it. (Just a side note, any time an author repeats something in the Bible it is important. It’s like the author is saying, “Pay attention to this!”

Gentleness

Paul then says that we are to let our gentleness be evident to all. Think about this for a minute. Paul is building an argument in this passage.

We can be gentle in our actions because we are rejoicing in the Lord—notice Paul says, “The Lord is near.”

Prayer

So as we rejoice in the Lord; as we display gentleness to those around us; we begin to understand the truth that God is in control. It should be noted that this word can be translated (and is in some versions) as “reasonableness.” So how is your gentleness or reasonableness doing?

So then, if we draw things to their logical conclusion, there is no need to be anxious about anything.

Instead we need to do three things:

First we need to pray. Prayer is talking to God. It is not reciting some grouping of words, or a poem, or a mantra. Pray is pouring your heart out to Jesus.

Secondly, Paul says we need to present our petitions to Jesus. Paul urges his readers to present their specific requests and the specific requests of others to Jesus!

The third point here is that all of this should be done with thanksgiving. When we approach our Lord we do not presume anything. Rather we should approach Him with an attitude of thanksgiving—regardless of the answer!

Finally, Paul gives us the benefit of rejoicing in the Lord, of being reasonable with those we deal with, and the benefit of praying and petitioning the Lord with thanksgiving. What is this benefit? “. . .the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

God promises that the benefit of bring everything to Him in prayers and requests with a thankful attitude is that His peace will keep our hearts and minds firmly planted in Christ Jesus.

Now in case you missed it, Paul wants us to know that what we focus on matters!

Finally, Brothers

Paul beings this section as though he was closing things out, but that’s not the case.

In the Greek, the word “whatever” used here is plural, which means there would be a number of things that would fall into each of these categories!

First, we are to focus on things that are true! Isn’t it interesting that people are more willing to believe lies than they are believing in things that are “true!”

Next we are to focus on what is “noble.” Another word would be “honorable.” This is talking about dignity—God’s dignity, a person’s dignity, a position’s dignity. One of the big problems in our world today is that we do not honor the way we should.

Think about it, our world does not honor Jesus Christ, or God the Father. Our world does not honor people who deserve honor. And our word does not honor positions that deserve to be honored.

Paul tells us we are to think on what is honorable!

The next, word is right. Another good word to substitute here is the word “just.” Those things that are just to the Greeks meant making and abiding by a series of rules or laws. The Greeks expected the person (or God) that created and/or enforces these rules would abide by them their selves.

Next we need to focus on those things that are pure. This meant without spot or blemish—without moral defect. Once again, many of us end up ruminating about all the moral defect around us—because other’s moral defect tends to cause us pain!

The next thing we are to focus on are things that are pleasing—or pleasing to think about. They are lovely.

Next we are told to focus on things that are admirable—these are things (or people) worthy of being commended!

To wrap things up, Paul tells us that we need to focus on things that are excellent—all of the categories listed above are “excellent!”

Then we are to focus on things worthy of praise—again all of the above categories are “worthy of praise.”

These are the things that we are to think about—or to put it another way—to think upon!

Follow Me!

Paul closes this entire section by telling his readers to “follow after him.” They are to put into practice all of the things that they have learned from Paul. They are to put into practice all of the things they received from Paul. They are to put into practice all of the things they have heard from Paul. And they are to put into practice all of the things they have seen in Paul!

Promise!

Today, our “so what” is actually a promise. God peace being with us in every circumstance this world throws at us!

While these steps are anything but easy, the reward is the promise of God’s peace.

I want you to know I’ve experienced God’s peace in the midst of the storm. I’ve experienced God’s peace when I couldn’t see what He was doing. And the true reason I’ve experienced God’s peace is because I’ve kept my focus on Him!

And when I focus on Him, prayer—talking to Him, pleading with Him, sharing our deepest hurts and heartaches with Him, pouring out the needs of those around us to Him all becomes a natural, but intricate part of my life! How about yours?