HOW TO PRAY
Kimberly Lawrence
Today’s Scripture: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6, ESV
Theme: Bring every single thing to God, not praying “for” things, but “about” them, desiring His will.
WISH LIST
If I am being honest, my prayer life probably needs a refresh. As I consider this week’s message on giving, I have come to recognize how self-centered my prayers have become. It’s like a child handing Santa a “wish list.” But that’s not always been the case. Before I developed a relationship with God—a REAL relationship—, I didn’t want to bother Him with trivial matters. I spent time in thankful reflection but hesitated to lay out the unimportant things that weighed down my heart. I genuinely felt like God’s attention should be reserved for “rock bottom” and “death bed” prayers, not my silly inconveniences.
TRUE FRIENDS
Have you ever had a friendship that just lacked depth? Perhaps a more accurate description is that of an acquaintance rather than a true friendship. You exchange pleasantries, talk about general life events, offer well wishes, and go about your day, likely not thinking of them again until you bump into them next time. There is no ill will, but there’s also no real connection.
In contrast, there is that friend who you can talk to for hours: they are the first people you think to call when something BIG is happening. There is no topic that’s off limits. They know you better than anyone else in your life: your strengths, your mistakes, your regrets, and what makes you “you.” You talk about delicate subjects like sickness, loss, heartbreak, loneliness, or anxiety. With them, you celebrate milestones and accomplishments. They care about the details…big and small. My true friends I trust with the ugly details. I trust they will love and support me. I trust they will forgive me and that they will be honest in helping me see areas of my life that need to be cleaned up. They can be counted on to provide sound counsel.
DEVELOPING TRUST WITH GOD
We create a trusting relationship with God through prayer. If we restrict the topics we bring to Him, we’re treating Him as an acquaintance instead of a true friend. One of my favorite verses and the one I first memorized is Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I find such peace in the last sentence: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” It conjures up an image of God carrying me—when I’m exhausted, frustrated or confused—and I find relief.
“FOR” OR “ABOUT”
Another important change I needed to make in my quiet time was how I prayed. By presenting my to-do list to God, it implied that I already knew what was right for me and I was simply asking Him to make it happen. I spent a lot of time praying “for” things rather than “about” them, trying to maintain control of the outcome rather than asking for His will to be done in my life.
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV) says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” How arrogant of me to think I could possibly know better than God! I shudder to think of the outcome if God had simply checked everything off and fulfilled my wish list. What amazing things would I have missed that were part of His plan, but not mine?
Make It Personal: Today, let’s focus on casting all our cares upon Him and asking for His will to be done in our lives, allowing God’s perfect plan for our lives to be fulfilled. In doing so, the blessings and resolutions that we so desire will be satisfied and a perfect friendship with Him will develop.
Pray: God, I put all my trust in You. Please take control of my life and guide my path. I surrender my selfish desires today. Please work through me to be a blessing to others and give me the confidence that You will provide for me in ways that surpass what I can ever do for myself. Thank You, God, for Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. Amen.
Read: Psalm 63:1; Matthew 6:9-13
Weekly Memory Verse: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, ESV