“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passes understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
This is one of my favorite “go-to” texts. I actually mentally quote it sometimes just to remind me of the benefits of prayer that are contained in it. I want to share these benefits with you, and hope it will be a great encouragement in your own prayer life. First, the text tells us that prayer is a cure for anxiety. (“Careful” can be translated “anxious.) Many people are anxious today and need to be reminded that they do not need to be anxious because they can go to the Lord of the universe, and shed their anxieties on Him. We will find Him ready and willing to help. There is no need for a Christian to be anxious. Second, there is the benefit of supplication, or petition. There is nothing that we cannot talk to Him about, and there is nothing that we can tell Him that He does not already know. We can share our concerns about other people with Him. I offer petition every day for my family. I offer petition for my fellow ministers. I offer petition for churches. There is nothing that we cannot share with Him. For example, the Bible tells us to pray for our enemies and the Lord will help us to accept them and not feel hostile toward them. This hostility is a real stunt to our Christian growth. You can pray for all people in your life. Thank God for the benefit of supplication. Third, there is the benefit of “requests.” Those who attend prayer meetings will be familiar with prayer requests. The greatest comfort that I had when undergoing serious illness, was that people all over Georgia were lifting up my name in prayer to the Lord. Praying for others is not just nice to do; it can also be a matter of life or death. We can also petition Him on behalf of our problems, etc. that we are having in our lives. There is nothing that is troubling that you cannot take to the Lord..Remember when you pray that the Lord is in the forgiving business and, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, you will find Him waiting for you, to forgive and cleanse you. Fourth, there is the benefit of peace. When we make our requests to Him in true confession and repentance, He will forgive us and give us peace. The peace that God gives is not just a nice thing, it is life changing. It is “peace that passes all understanding.” If you want peace today take your concerns to God in true confession and repentance, and the “peace that passes understanding” will be yours. In fact, I challenge you take all of your burdens to the Lord. The “peace that passes all understanding can be yours. Take advantage of these benefits of prayer today. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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