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“Be anxious for nothing, but in all things, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
Real prayer is petition, not pretension. The first is the presentation of an urgently felt need. The second is the false assumption that one knows in advance what the outcome should be.
Sadly, many believe the latter equals true faith. Yet the Apostle Paul directs us to put our faith not in outcomes, but in God himself. That’s why the above passage ends with the promise that, when we do, our peace will “transcend all understanding.” That is, whether or not we understand the outcome, we’ll know we’ve placed it where it belongs, with the One who does.
Even Jesus, in intense anxiety over what lay ahead, petitioned his Father to, if possible, “let this cup (of suffering) pass from me.” But then, sensing the answer was “no,” Jesus replied, “Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
The outcome, had it been what Jesus requested, would have been ultimately disastrous for all humankind. Instead, it brought a peace that transcends all understanding not only to Jesus himself…
But to all who’ve followed him ever since.
It’s a matter of honesty with the Lord, he already sees our hearts before we come before him. It is also about necessity; we can’t live if we can’t breathe. He loves us, he wants to know if we love him.
Blessings
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I love this and really needed to hear it today. God bless you and yours, Mitch.
You too, my Anonymous friend.
Faith in one’s faith is empty, as you state pretense which is a projection. Too many people give up on God because He doesn’t grant their wishes, and it’s sad. Faith in Christ is about so much more and so many more people than just ourselves. Pray allows us to participate in God’s Will and stretch the boundaries of self. Happy Sonday, Mitch!
Well said, and thak you, Pamela❣
You’re welcome, Mitch.
Thanks, Mitch.
Barbara Woolard’s eloquent book “Beyond Words: The Power of Action in a World of Thoughts and Prayers” has a related take on prayer that can be (too briefly) summarized in this post’s terms:
Truly helpful prayer is petition for the courage and strength to help undo havoc created by humans, not pretension that a supernatural intervention can fix it for us.
Thank you.
My privilege, Debby.
Amen. I need more petitions and trust Him for the peace.
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Thanks for sharing this, Mitch.
My privilege, Chris.
Good! I didn’t recall that the promise of transcending peace comes after the call to prayer. And you got me thinking of the person who prayed publicly that he should not be like that sinner (over there). Thank you for reminding us that honest prayer without expectation is, well, what we should pray. Hoping you and yours are really well.
Likewise, Christopher.
Thank you for that very simple and straightforward explanation..
My privilege, Sheryl.
Amen, great post, much needed
I’m so glad it spoke to you, L.G.
So right.
Amen 🙏🏽. Thanks Mitch.
Beyond “petition,” Mitch, real prayer is a practice of the Presence. It involves much more than merely asking, but praise, thanxgiving (not the same as praise, btw), intercession (which could fall under petition), and argument. Just be sure He wins when you get involved in that last one!
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Amen, C.A.
Yes, that’s wisdom. Thank you, Mitch. If we are to rejoice in the Lord always, we have to have an undergirding trust in God’s goodness.
Exactly, Frank!
La pétition est un acte d’humilité. Elle reconnaît nos limites et notre besoin d’aide.
La vraie prière dit : Seigneur, je ne comprends pas tout.
Je ne maîtrise pas tout. J’ai besoin de toi.
C’est pourquoi la pétition n’est pas une faiblesse. Elle est une confiance. Elle est l’attitude de l’enfant qui ose demander parce qu’il sait qu’il est aimé.
la prière ouvre les mains pour remettre ce qu’elle ne peut porter seule. Et dans cet abandon naît une paix que la raison seule ne peut produire.
Merci pour cette réflexion 🙏
Bien dit, Lucia❣
Thank you for the reminder.
I have a favourite old bench where I pray — mostly to those no longer here. One day I know that I too will join them — wherever they are — but it helps me to keep them close in and remember what they gave and taught me.
Deep bows and blessings,
Julian
Thank you, and likewise, Julian.
Prayer is not a recipe. Your post reminds me of a perspective I so easily forget, especially when I think I know what should happen. (And I do think that, often)
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Amen. I was privileged to preach yesterday at Memorial Baptist Church in Verona WI on this very prayer Jesus prayed. Submission to the Father’s will is something we don’t do naturally. Telling the Father we want his will to be done is the beginning of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. It is far to easy for me to pray “my will be done.”
True submission comes from the heart: Respect for the Father, Worship, Devotion and then Work, which reveals our true heart. If you are interested, here is a MBC website link that you can use to get to the sermon. http://www.mbcverona.org
Yesterday’s sermon has not been uploaded yet, but here is a link to the sermon page:
https://mbcverona.org/resources/sermons
Thanks, Wayne!
If you only pray when you’re in trouble – YOU are in trouble !
Amen, Oshin!
Amen, Mitch. Beautiful. Keep me in your Will, Lord, so I won’t be in the way. The surrendering—daily….hourly.
The attacks are real as I walk IN HIM. That complete indwelling. It would be so easy to just do “my thing”. But it fails. God help us all!
Love and prayers, dear friend. You and yours are lights in this world!
💪 Bless you for living what you speak, dear Karla. 🧡