Every thing by prayer

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Here we are instructed by God to be careful for nothing. This is a divine commandment! It is an inescapable imperative! We must understand that we are here told not to hold onto any anxiety. We are to be anxious about nothing! We are not to let care get the best of us, taking over our minds, and commandeering our attention. But instead, we are to take it to the Lord. “Every thing by prayer,” He says. Nothing should be kept to ourselves. We should not be ruminating and meditating on careful and worrisome thoughts. We should not be dwelling on and mentally inhabiting in the dungeon of worry and care. We are to rise out of that by bringing every thing to the Lord in prayer!

Every thing by prayer! Dear friend, there is not one thing in the world that the Lord doesn’t want to hear about that is taking place in your life. He tells you to bring it to Him. And this is to be done by prayer. Pray about everything! Talk to God about every issue, problem, and conundrum. Every mystery, every quandary, and every enigma—bring it to God in prayer! By prayer, and by supplication—an earnest entreaty—and thanksgiving. We should entreat God about the things we face. And we should never approach the Lord without thanksgiving. Thank Him for everything! Yes! Thank Him for the things that He is doing unbeknownst to you. Thank Him for the good and the bad. Thank Him for His mercy and His grace. For these things are ever abundant and overflowing. And then, let your requests be made known unto God. Do not be ashamed to take all things, great and small, to the Lord. Let them be known and then leave them there!

And the promise then listed is a product of obedience to the verse we have just studied. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Peace! Such a wonderful thing! Most do not know it! They know it not because they are holding everything themselves and not bringing it all to the Lord. They forfeit peace when they cling to their troubles with an iron grasp. May the Lord deliver us from this. This great peace that we may have surpasses understanding. When you take everything to the Lord, you will have a peace in your heart in the midst of the trials that most people will call foolish. They will think it strange that you can be peaceful all the while being tossed in the storms of life. But you know you are with the Master! His peace keeps your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Your heart may be kept! Your mind may be kept! Only in Christ! Only through Him may you have true and lasting peace. Bring all to Him today, and what peace shall be freely yours!

Joseph Scriven has helped many over the years as he has well articulated this thought:

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge–

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;

thou wilt find a solace there.

Would you pray now and give all your cares to the Lord?