PRAY THROUGH IT ALL
Part three of how to get the most out of the COVID-19 Lock-down
The writer to the church in Philippi wrote these powerful words found in Philippians.4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”
The phenomenal thing for us to note is that these words weren’t penned from a palace, a position of prominence or a peaceful zen-like retreat, but rather from a small, cramped and lonely prison cell.
Paul’s solution to live in a non-anxious, non-stressed, don’t-worry-be-happy type of state no matter what the circumstances, confinement or constriction was not to stop caring, and definitely not just burying your head in the sand.
Paul with deep authority tells the Philippian church that they don’t have to be wracked with anxiety or fear no matter what they are facing, and that in every situation they can have access to a heavenly peace directly from God! And this invitation is as real and available to us now in our bizarre and weird season of life we find ourselves, as much as it was then when Paul first wrote it.
When he says, “in every situation” that word “every” literally means (no matter what translation you read) “every”! That means it includes a corona virus situation. It also means a lock-down situation. It also includes the financial and economic situation we are staring down the barrel of. “Every” means “every”!
So if this heavenly peace that goes beyond logical conclusions and circumstances is accessible to us, how are we to “not be anxious about anything” by laying hold of this peace for our lives in the here and now?
To experience God’s peace instead of anxiety, pray with thankfulness about every concern.
Paul mentions four Greek words for prayer which overlap in meaning and yet are helpful to distinguish: Prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and requests.
1.PRAYER
When Paul says to make our requests known “to God,” the Greek word means “face to face with God,” or to come directly before Him. This means that when we pray, we must pause and take time to remember that we are coming into the very presence of the holy God, where even the holy angels cover their faces and cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah.6:3)
And this Holy God welcomes us into His presence as a father welcomes his children. Through our High Priest, the Lord Jesus, God invites us to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews.4:16)
2.PETITION
If you have ever seen how a young child relentlessly and unwaveringly asks their parents for something, you’ll understand what it means to petition God! Bringing God our petition’s conjures up an image of utmost reliance and trust on Him, even to the point of being “child-like”. It shows us our total need for God Himself, and not just for certain temporal benefits.
When we petition God, not growing weary in our asking, it purifies our desires, since we must bring them to God Himself. It prepares us to receive thankfully what He gives, being reminded that it comes from His hand. It helps us to meditate on His kindness as we delight in what He has given. It confirms to us our own weakness and God’s great providence and faithfulness in meeting our needs.
3. THANKSGIVING
At such times of anxiety, thankfulness is not automatic or spontaneous. You have to do it deliberately by faith. Thanksgiving in a time of trials reflects three things:
(a) Remembrance of God’s supply in the past. You think back over His faithfulness to you up to this point and realize that His mercies have sustained you. He has been with you in every trial. He never abandons or forsakes His children, even if we face persecution or death for His sake.
(b) Submission to God’s sovereignty in the present. To thank God in the midst of a crisis or trial is to say, “Lord, I don’t understand, but I submit to Your sovereign purpose in this situation. I trust that You know what You’re doing and will work it together for good.” We are not just to thank God when we feel like it, but also when we don’t feel like it (1.Thessalonians.5:18)
(3) Trust in God’s sufficiency for the future. A thankful heart rests upon the all-sufficient God, knowing that even though we don’t see how He is going to do it, He will meet our every need as we cast ourselves on Him.
4. REQUESTS
This is the word used where Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew.7:7)
Big things and small things, big anxieties and little anxieties, they all matter to God. And our job is to bring them to him with a consistent and unerring repetition.
A woman once asked the British Bible teacher, G. Campbell Morgan, “Do you think we should pray about the little things in our lives, or just the big things?” He retorted, “Madam, can you think of anything in your life that is big to God?”
The great news is that the God who holds the peace that passes all understanding is our Father!
So whenever you’re anxious, stressed out and feel fear start to bring the walls of panic that much closer, run to God in reverent, humble, specific and thankful prayer. The result will astound you.
We are promised God’s incomparable peace when we pray.
Blog written by Gabe Phillips
Gabe and Fiona lead the Life Changers Milnerton and City congregations