Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
When things look bad, when things are bad, God tells us not to be anxious. He gives us instruction regarding what we are to do instead. When a moment in time comes where there is cause for our physical man to feel anxiety, we are to pray and give supplication (ask humbly) and we are to do it with thanksgiving.
Are we to be thankful that we have a need? I don’t think so. It is asking with expectation of heart that help is on the way.
In this illustration the little girl is faced with something that looks bad, seriously bad.
She has learned that mommy has a solution to every problem. If the little girl knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that mommy could and would fix it, would she have been crying?
Of course she would, we are not robots, we have emotions, and when something hurts us, we cry.
But seeking out help gives relief, and when there is trust in the one who is providing the help, anxiety is lifted and thankfulness ensues.
Our demeanor must change when we seek God, and if it doesn’t than we have not become aware that He is to be trusted.
Spending time with God when times are good is a must for us to find that trust when we need it.
In Proverbs Chapter 3 the scripture says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”
That word acknowledge is the word KNOW. In all our ways we are to know Him and he SHALL (absolutely) direct our paths, he will show us what to do and where to go.
We are Body Soul and Spirit, we can not deny what we are. If something happens, our body will react and respond. But our spirit can rise up and quiet our bodies and seek God for the help we need to overcome.
It is in the KNOWING of Him where the trust comes from, and it is in the trust that we can find thankfulness even in times of trouble, because we know that he loves us, is there with us, and will lead us. It is in the KNOWING him where we can find obedience to God's command in Philippians 4:6
You cannot force trust, it happens by spending time with someone and getting to know them. The only means we have to get to know God is through His Word. God gives us instruction to meditate on His word day and night. So it must be necessary.
It is often mentioned that Jesus woke up a great while before day to pray, to spend time with His Father. If the only begotten Son of God, who came from God and was with him from the beginning needed to take time to be with Him, than I believe it is safe to say that we also need to take the time.
It is like showering, not such a noticeable thing, yet without doing it nothing in life works.
Showering doesn’t get us the job, but without doing it we can’t get it.
Showering won’t get you the relationship, but if you don’t do it you won’t keep one.
Showering won’t make us friends, but without doing it, we will not have any.
It is safe to say, that prayer is as important as showering. Time has to be taken to do both, neither one in itself will get us what we need and want, but without doing it, nothing goes quite right. And when we are in trouble... Yikes there is nothing as coveted as the time we spent with God when things were good.
This topic went onto a direction I did not expect when I began it, but I can’t deny it’s logic.
If we are to do what God instructs; to have no anxiety, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests made known to him... We need to have a level of trust for that to happen. For us to have a level of trust, we have to know him, and to know Him we have to spend time with Him.
Click here to own "What Does God Say To You"
Much Love!
Kathy
