“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).
There are many people who practice a certain habit. They will never go out to shop without a shopping list. This habit was picked up probably after observing someone who had profited from it or after making some costly mistake. There are instances where one without any advance list ends up spending freely at every slight temptation of a passing good or rushes to enjoy a certain service, only to end up fast broke with other more critical needs left unattended. A shopping list helps to save one from all this.
Just as a shopping list is helpful, another equally good habit for believers is to have a prayer list, that one takes regularly to the Almighty God. There are several advantages here. First, it helps focus one on particular prayer points that can easily escape the mind during a quiet time in the presence of the Almighty. But also, more, the list is a regular reminder of what one needs to take to the Almighty in form of petitions. And because one has a list he is always aware of what to add on, here and then. There are those believers with prayer lists which they keep adding on as they hear the needs of those they happen to meet.
One of the beautiful thing about such a list is to see prayer requests every now and then met. There are instances where a need is met without suspense, but other needs may take their course, as God wills. The list serves as a record of how the Almighty God comes through, sometimes without us even being aware. As one ticks an answered prayer request here and there, sees what God has done, his faith is inspired.
Of course we are here not talking about a command from the Lord, and you may as well have another habit that works for you. But this is also one good one, you may consider and give a shot, if not already doing so!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I bring to you these lined petitions assured that you will meet each one of them according to your glorious riches in heaven, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
