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Limitless
When I think of prayer – I think of this verse. It pretty much says it all. It is (and can be) extremely challenging, but it gives us incredible direction as to what prayer should look like.
The apostle Paul writes this letter to be read publically in Philippi about a disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche. He does not take sides in the dispute, but instead promotes reconciliation by both parties.
He refers to those who share in the cause of the Gospel as equals. He encourages GOD’s people in any circumstance, to rejoice in the LORD. In other words, he is being JESUS to them.
What does this mean to us you may ask??? Look at the text again. How many times in your prayer life are you anxious about what you are praying for? Anxiety to me means worry. Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in CHRISTianty. If we are truly “interceding” (to borrow a term from Alan) on the behalf of others, we should trust that GOD will hear and answer those prayers.
Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I am not promoting selfish prayers or “prosperity gospel”. I am talking about boldly praying for others and knowing that GOD is much more capable of anything we can possibly imagine.
The other two things that stand out to me are “in everything” and “with thanksgiving”. There are reasons why Paul uses these exact words. GOD is in everything. Thanksgiving is a recognition that everything comes as a gift.
I don’t know about you, but I struggle to be thankful in everything. We are so blessed. If you do not think so, go to Kenya with Cumberland. That will give you a true idea of the everyday blessings we take for granted.
My goal is to give GOD the glory in every area of my life – in everything! Not to be anxious, but to be thankful. Thanksgiving is the antidote to worry.
My prayer for Cumberland is that we can use this verse in our prayers and remember not to put any limits on GOD. I look forward to seeing what He does with those prayers when we acknowledge Him in everything, and replace anxiety with thanksgiving.
Eddie,
This is a great verse because it is so easy to become anxious. Life is an anxious place, both in our personal situations, and in our larger communities. All we have to do is flip on the news and anxiety can come flooding in! Prayer is our opportunity to flip those feelings around and, through prayer and Thanksgiving, we give God permission to intervene in those situations: in other nations, our country, our city, and our own situations.
We are currently seeing God bless us tremendously in ways we could not have even imagined a couple weeks ago. Only God can do these breakthroughs, but we must give him permission to act through prayer! As he is our loving Father, he wants to bless us, protect us, and sustain us through situations that make the people who are not in Him anxious. We have Jesus, and through prayer, we don’t have to take Xanax. He will take care of our concerns for others and ourselves. We don’t have to carry them! Praise God!
Thanksgiving puts everything in the right perspective. When I accknoleged what God has done and is doing through thanksgiving I can then see more clearly what I should pray for.You hit the nail on the head for me when talking about God being in everything. So in everything give thanks and then present your plea to God.
Eddie,
It’s been great being at Cumberland and being in Community Group with you and MA in the early years. My question is, Why did it take so long to get you on the Elder Board?
I want to share a thought. There are some who are labeled as “prosperity gospel preachers” that present the gospel in a powerful way. Paul writes in Phil. 1:15-18 about similar preachers of his time and this was his response, “…whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, I will rejoice.” If a message of prosperity draws people to listen, hear, and accept Christ and Paul didn’t scorn them, then who am I to be scornful of them?