Daily Devotion: Turn Your Worries Into Prayer

Scripture:
Philippians 4: 4-9

Main Verse:
Philippians 4: 6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Observation:

Do you worry a lot? Paul's words in verse 4 tell us not to worry about anything, but we still do worry, don't we? It is hard not to worry, and we can't just tell ourselves to stop worrying. We can't just order our spirit to stop being anxious. But God wants us to bring our troubles to Him. There are many other verses in the Bible where God commands us to stop worrying.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5: 7).  

"Do not let your hearts be troubled." (John 14: 1)

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

When we worry, we are committing a sin because we doubt the Lord our God's capability to take care of us. Worry stops us from trusting that God is working in our midst. Worry makes us forget that we have a God who is bigger than the universe.

Application:

Is there a way we can stop ourselves from worrying? Paul shows us three things that Christians ought to do instead of being anxious. Paul's first instruction was to pray rather than worry, and again, he tells us that in "every situation," we should take everything to the Lord in prayer. When we pray, we lift up whatever it is that troubles us and let God do His work. Is anything too big to the Lord? Take your worries to Him in prayer. He also tells us to "present your requests to God." Do you know the reason God does not answer our prayers? It's because we fail to ask Him. Jesus said ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7). Finally, we need to be thankful to the Lord, as we have the assurance that even before we ask something to the Lord in prayer, He is more than competent to grant us our requests. If you know who the Lord is and what He is capable of doing, worry will not have any place in your mind.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for worrying rather than praying. Forgive me when I forget that You are God, and there is nothing in this world that you are not capable of doing. Thank you because I have the assurance that I can cast my anxieties upon You. Teach me to always rely on you in prayer, and teach my heart to be forever thankful for your graciousness. In Jesus's name I pray. AMEN.