Take Everything To God In Prayer

Take Everything To God In Prayer

(Daily Inspirational Memory Verse) 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God" 

Philippians 4:6

What does it mean to make a request?

According to dictionary.com to make a request means to ask for something to be given or done, especially as a favor or courtesy; solicitation, or petition. Another definition reveals that it is a formal request for something; it means to make a plea or submit a petition. Yet, all too often, we do the exact opposite of submitting a request and then we wonder why we haven't received an answer. As soon as we encounter a problem, many of us jump on the phone with our closest friends and bombard them with issues that they cannot solve. We spend hours yapping about issues that a few minutes in prayer could solve. Other times we spend days, weeks, and maybe even years complaining about things that we should be praying about. We complain about the government; we complain about work; we complain about our spouses, and we complain about our children. However, we spend very little time praying for our government or lifting our employers or businesses up before the Lord. We put our own family members down rather than praying for the hand of God to move mightily in their lives. 

Here Are A Few Things You Should Know About Prayer

1.  It is simply a petition. Isaiah 55:8-9 says that "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. In other words, when our petitions are made in prayer, our ideas about when and how the prayer is answered is totally different from how God delivers it. He is taking into account a lot more than our little minds can conceive. In reality, we want things our way; however, they are going to go God's way. Here's what we know about God:

• God is Omnipresent: He is capable of being everywhere at the same time; his divine presence encompasses the entire universe.
• God is Omnipotent: He is all-powerful; he has power over everything, and he can do all things; nothing is impossible for Him to do.
• God is Omniscience: He is all-knowing; he is aware of past, future, and present knowledge; nothing escapes Him.  

Knowing this critical information about God, we shall trust that He knows what's best for us. When we submit our prayer request, we should trust that regardless of how things may appear, they are working together for our good, because our heavenly father loves us and has our best interest at heart. He will respond from an omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient point of view. He knows how His response to our prayers will affect us now on to eternity. He will not sacrifice our eternal souls just to appease our current flesh. Yet, He desires to give us good gifts, and He will do so according to His perfect will. (Click Here for the Lord's Prayer; you can also find it in Matthew 6:9-13)

2. You have to actually make a request: complaining to your friends or God isn't actually making a request, it's complaining. To make a request means to ask for something...what do you want God to do about your situation? What would you like to happen? How much time do you spend whining about your circumstances? How many times have you passed right by the Bible to pick up the phone and talk about them? Just stop; find some scriptures on your specific situation; make a request to God about your situation using His word in prayer. If you still feel the need to call a friend, don't leave it up to them to pray whatever they want over you about your life, but rather ask them to stand in agreement with you about your situation according to God's word.

3.  Have a good attitude during and after prayer: It irks me to no end to hear a Bible-believing Christian say things like "how could God allow this or that to happen?" "Well, I guess God doesn't want me to be blessed."  "I've prayed about it, but I guess He just didn't answer." I don't like it when people act like they are encouraged, but they've really given up because it's written all over their face and defeat is in their language. In reality, they don't believe that God is still working on their behalf regardless of how things appear. Yet, in their defense, we all get a little weary, but giving up on God isn't the answer.  NEWS FLASH: He is working on your behalf. Regardless of what it looks like; He is trying to help dig you out of a hole that, in most cases, you put yourself in. Yes, He could just pull you out, but remember all of the things He has to consider. Therefore, your answer may come to you in a process that requires your cooperation. However, having a good attitude and being obedient will get you a lot further than insults, sarcasm, and unbelief towards our Father. Just because things didn't go exactly how you wanted them to doesn't mean they will not work in your favor at a  later time. God has all "these things" in mind: your past, your present,  your future, and your eternity. 

Remember, Jesus was faithful even unto the cross. He asked God, "if it is thy will, let this cup pass from me." Yet, it was the Father's perfect will that Jesus fulfilled His purpose. Had God answered Jesus and allowed that cup to pass from Him we would be in a world of trouble, so even though Jesus made a request, God responded with our future in mind. Because of this response, we have Romans 10:9-10 "if you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and is justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess, that you are saved.

Thanks for Reading! Listen to Today's episode below! Feel free to donate to Daily Inspirational Bible Verses below, and I'll catch in the next Daily Inspirational Bible Verse. 

To Your Success. . . 

~TDC~