Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.—Philippians 4:6
When I was growing up, pet stores would sell little bunnies and blue– and pink-dyed chicks during the Easter season. People would buy these cute little bunnies and chicks and take them home, but the problem of course is that little chicks turn into chickens, and little bunnies become full-grown rabbits. They grow up. Little things turn into big things.
When it comes to prayer, we sometimes only think about the big things. But nothing is too small to bring to God in prayer. He is interested in even the smallest details.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (verse 6). Notice he didn’t say, “In only the big, hairy, scary things of life, pray. Only pull out the prayers when things get really bad. Otherwise, just sort it out yourself.”
Rather, Paul said, “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Little things turn into big things. And little problems turn into big problems.
Nothing is too small or too big to bring to God. “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Do I give thanks to God before the prayer is answered? Absolutely. Do I offer thanksgiving to God even if He doesn’t answer the prayer the way that I prayed it? Absolutely. Because God is in control, and He has a purpose.
If we see God in all of His glory, we will see our problems in their proper perspective. It is not that your problem isn’t serious; it is just that your God is greater. And if you see that, it will change the way that you pray.
