Prayer That MattersSample

A Powerful Weapon

Read Philippians 4:4-9; Matthew 6:25-34 and 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not be anxious for anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

Let’s face it. Life can be tough. From work to home and everything in between, new worries fly at you every day from every direction. Sometimes you cringe just turning on the news. Couple these concerns with your personal fears and insecurities, and you have the perfect recipe for anxiety.

Anxiety can shake you loose from your spiritual foundation and destroy your peace of mind.

Several years ago I went through my own bout with anxiety. And I know how jarring it is to have your peace of mind shaken to the core. But despite how prevalent anxiety might be in your life, Scripture tells you not to be anxious.

For many, that command may seem like a lost cause. And if you rely on yourself to overcome anxiety, that would be true. But as Paul taught in Philippians 4:6-7, prayer is the most powerful weapon we have to combat anxiety…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It’s so encouraging to know that the God of the universe cares about relieving our anxieties – all you have to do is go to Him in prayer!

Unfortunately, a lot of believers are confused about how prayer works. Maybe you can identify with this person’s question…

“I don't get why when people pray for something and get it, they think it was because of their faith. And if they don’t get what they prayed for, they think they don't have enough faith!”

This may be the most common misconception about prayer – that if you have enough faith, you’ll get anything you ask for from God. Another mistake is thinking that since God already knows what you need, prayer is unnecessary.

Clearly, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding prayer. But if you truly want to be free from anxiety, you need to know how prayer really works! It’s not a magic bullet or an instant fix. It’s an anchor. Prayer is a conversation with God, one in which you recognize that God is bigger than all your problems.

In his infinite love and grace, God invites you to talk to Him about your fears, your pain, your desires, and your dreams! As you learn to pray with thanksgiving and present your requests to God, you’ll experience a supernatural peace – a calm in your heart and mind – that drives anxiety away!