When it comes to the way that fully devoted followers of Christ live, at the top of the list is that fully devoted followers of Christ pray. They do not just say they will pray; they really pray. Every day, they turn to God and talk to Him. They pray about everything. They praise God, they make requests for themselves, their family members, and their friends. They ask God to intervene in areas where they feel weak. Those who are fully devoted to God are devoted to talking with Him regularly in prayer.
Throughout Scripture, followers of Christ are called to pray. One of the calls to pray is found in the book of Philippians. The apostle Paul writes in chapter 4, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.” Do not miss the remarkable truth in this passage of Scripture: The antidote to worry is prayer. Instead of worrying, we are called to pray. When we are worried and fearful, we can turn to God, our all-powerful Heavenly Father, and pray. This is, of course, not the only time that we can and should pray. Paul continued writing in this passage of Scripture, "Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done" (verse 6). We, as Christ followers, are called to pray about everything. We can turn to Him about everything. Nothing is too insignificant to God. He wants us to turn to Him in prayer about everything. What is the result of praying about everything? Paul writes that those who pray about everything "will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (verse 7). When we pray, we are filled with peace. This description of God's peace is remarkable. It "guards [our] hearts and minds." His peace protects our minds as we seek to live the lives that Christ has called us to live.
The truth that we must pray is certainly not novel. We know that we are called to pray. We must ask ourselves, however, if we are actually praying. Are we regularly talking to God about everything as we go throughout our days? Let’s be people who are committed to our prayer. If we do, we will experience God’s great, overwhelming peace.
Take some time now to pray. Pray about what is on your mind. Pray for the people in your life who are hurting. Pray about everything. Commit to praying throughout your entire day, and let this prayer posture become a habit that carries you through not just this day, but throughout this week, this month, and the rest of your life.
1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
