Pray about Everything
Notes
Transcript
Last we began our series on “Thankful in Everything”
We are taking the rest of November and looking at the four keys to surviving stress which leads to one being thankful in everything. They're very simple to say, they're a lot more difficult to apply. And last week we looked at Step One.
Step One: Worry about nothing
The key to reducing stress in your life is live one day at a time. Don't worry about tomorrow. Just focus on today. Focus on today's issues and problems and let God take care of them. Worry about nothing. God is saying I will take care of you one day at a time.
1) Rejoice in our problems because God will use them to our benefit: “Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4)
2) See our “worries” as an opportunity to practice Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”
So before we look at step two let us read our focal passage for this series in Phil. 4:6-7
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.
STEP TWO: Start Praying
STEP TWO: Start Praying
"In everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Some people say, "I don't have time to pray." If they use the time they spend worrying for praying then they would have the time to pray. If you and I prayed as much as we worried, we would have a whole lot less to worry about.
He says "in everything." Is God interested in your car payments? Yes. Is He interested in postnasal drip? Yes. Is God interested in your headache? Yes. He's interested in every detail of your life.
Phil. 4:6 is literally instructing us that "When you pray, tell God every detail of your life."
God is concerned about the big things and the small things. He knows every detail of your life.
The God who made every thumbprint unique,
who made every voice print unique,
who made every snowflake unique has no problem handing the details of your life.
There is nothing you cannot pray about. If it's worth worrying about, it's worth praying about. There is nothing insignificant to God. You can pray about anything and everything.
Most people pray too vague, they pray in such a general way. Things like, "God, bless me." What is a blessing? Can you define what a blessing is?
Sometimes a problem is a blessing. Is that what you're praying? "God, give me a lot of problems."
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
You see that word “ALL” what does that mean? We have to learn to unload our problems instead of worrying.
You've got to let it go, unload it and give it to the LORD.
James says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." Just ask God to help you with those worries, those problems, and those stresses.
Here's the insight: No problem is too big or too small to pray about.
Paul says if you want to relieve stress here's what you do: Worry about nothing and pray about everything.
Simple, but it's something that you have to learn over and over.