Staying Sane In A Crazy World #5 – Be Prayerful!

“Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” (Philippians 4:6 The Message Translation)

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have a tendency to forget to pray about things until I’ve tried everything else. If I can’t work things out, I go to prayer. This isn’t really the way God intended prayer to be. We need to be better at turning quickly to prayer and this is what Paul is encouraging the Philippi church in this verse. He says, do not be anxious … pray! Go straight to prayer, don’t hang about trying other things. Listen to how JB Phillips translates this verse:

“Whenever you pray tell God every detail of your needs in thankful prayer.” (Philippians 4:6, New Testament in Modern English)

Again, I have so many discussions over the years over the things you should and shouldn’t pray about. Of course you pray for sickness or suffering but can you pray for a parking space!! Paul tells us to be specific. The more traditional translations of this verse say:

“⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.“ (Philippians 4:6 – NIV)

We need to be specific with God and tell him everything we need. After all, he actually knows it already, he is just wanting and waiting for us to speak it out and tell him. If we have needs, however big or small, that we don’t bring to God, then we allow worry and anxiety to get a grip of us again. As Nicky Gumbel, of HTB London writes, “Prayer and worry are not easy bedfellows.” The more we pray and hand things over to God, the less anxiety can get a hold of us or, probably more accurately, the less anxiety can take control of our life. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones of Westminster Chapel, wrote the following,

“What does he mean by prayer? This is the most gentle term and it means worship and adoration. If you have problems that seem insoluble, if you are liable to become anxious and overburdened, and somebody tells you to pray, do not rush to God with your petition. That is not the way. Before you make your requests known unto God, pray, worship, adore. Come into the presence of God and for the time being forget your problems. Do not start with them. Just realise that you are face to face with God. The idea of being face to face is inherent in the very word ‘prayer’. You come into the presence of God and you realise the presence and you recollect that presence – that is the first step always. Even before you make your requests known unto God you realise that you are face to face with God, that you are in his presence and you pour out your heart in adoration. That is the beginning.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Peace of God)

Wow! I wonder whether, if I managed to do this before I ever brought specific requests to God, I would be less anxious and possibly see more answers to my prayers.

The Apostle does also tell us to bring our requests to him. Perhaps it is helpful to keep a prayer journal, where you can record the prayers you make and know exactly what they are. Tom Wright explains this as follows:

“With the God who had now revealed himself in Jesus, there was no guarantee against suffering, but there was the certainty that this God was ultimately in control and that he would always hear and answer prayers on any topic whatever. People sometimes say today that one shouldn’t bother God about trivial requests (fine weather for the church picnic; a parking space in a busy street); but, though of course our intercessions should normally focus on serious and major matters, we note that Paul says we should ask God about every area of life. If it matters to you, it matters to God.” (Tom Wright, Paul For Everyone – The Prison Letters)

How often do we actually take things to God in prayer or do we prefer to sit and worry about them. Do we feel somehow better because we are holding onto the worry and the fear. When I type it, it seems strange that we would do that but I know that I have a tendency to hold onto problems and let them fester inside, rather than come before God in worship and give them over to him and then … leave them with him and not take them straight back and start worrying again. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, it was simple and straight forward. It too started with worship (“Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the centre on which our lives turn.” (Matthew 6:9 The Passion Translation)) and then he commanded them to pray quite simply “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) or as one translation puts it, “We acknowledge you as our Provider of all we need each day.” (Matthew 6:11, The Passion Translation).

So, in the midst of the challenges and crisis we face today and over the next few days, weeks or months, my prayer is that we find the space to worship, to come face-to-face with God, to present our requests to him so that we can give them over to him and leave them with him. For he is our God and he knows us better than we know ourselves. He loves us and does not want to leave us lost and alone, fearful and anxious. He may not promise us quick and easy answers, but he does promise to be with us, as we will see in the coming few days reflections.

So today … be prayerful!