Tuesday, April 25
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
We continue today, in chapter four of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. The Philippians letter is often called the epistle of joy. Interestingly enough, Paul was in prison when he wrote this book. Although prison is not a place most people would feel very joyful in, Paul finds joy from his relationship with Jesus Christ. We can too. Even in the verse above, we have much to be joyful about.
First, we don’t have to worry about anything. Why? Because we can pray in every situation (big or small). If the God of the universe knows even the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30), surely He cares about the details of our lives. Second, the Father loves us; He demonstrated and proved it by sending Jesus to die on the cross. By His life, death, burial, and resurrection Jesus made a way for us to boldly come to Him with our requests (Hebrews 4:16).
When we present our requests to God, we are to do so with thanksgiving. Though we may not always be thankful about every detail of every situation, we can always be thankful that God is with us in them. God loves us; and He gives us grace and strength to persevere! When we are weak, then He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). So, can we say today–like King David in Psalm 25:1–“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.”
Prayer Topic:
What are you worried about today? Will you bring your concerns boldly to God, knowing that He cares? Focus on the fact that God is sovereign (in control of your circumstances). Ask Him what He is trying to teach you right now and how you can respond in faith. Consider how He has been faithful to you in the past. Tell God what you are thankful for. Watch for the Holy Spirit to show Himself trustworthy and active today–via people, by His Word, in prayer, the sounds of a song, or maybe through that still, small voice that (gently, yet assuredly) lets you know He’s there.
Luanne Glass