Replace Care with All Prayer

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

NO care, but all prayer. No anxiety, but much joyful communion with God. Carry your desires to the Lord of your life, the guardian of your soul. Go to Him with two portions of prayer and one of fragrant praise. Do not pray doubtfully, but thankfully. Consider that you have your petitions, and therefore thank God for His grace. He is giving you grace; give Him thanks. Hide nothing. Allow no want to lie rankling in your bosom; “make known your requests.” Run not to man. Go only to your God, the Father of Jesus, who loves you in Him. This shall bring you God’s own peace. You shall not be able to understand the peace which you shall enjoy. It will enfold you in its infinite embrace. Heart and mind through Christ Jesus shall be steeped in a sea of rest. Come life or death, poverty, pain, slander, you shall dwell in Jesus above every ruffling wind or darkening cloud. Will you not obey this dear command?

Yes, Lord, I do believe thee; but, I beseech Thee help mine unbelief. —C.H. Spurgeon

Pray For the Church:

We clearly see again and again in his letters that Paul prays such rich, kingdom-saturated prayers for the

churches.

For the church in Thessalonica:

“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess 1:11-12

For the church in Colossae:

“For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God;” Col 1:9-10

For the church of Philippi:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Phil 1:9-11

For the church in Ephesus:

See Ephesians 1:16-17 and Ephesians 3:14-21

Beloved, as we pray for ourselves, our families, and our friends we need to cultivate how to pray more fervently and consistently for the church. For one, we just need to start doing it—and encouraging others to do so. Here are some guidelines to help us pray for the church. Perhaps you could pray two or three of the points below per day for the next week—maybe in your quiet time, maybe at the family dinner table or family prayer time. 

Pray— 

1. That we would be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace— to have unity amid our diversity, loving one another as Christ loved us. 

2. That a mindset of discipling would form in which making disciples is viewed as an ordinary part of the Christian life. 

3. That the elders would shepherd the flock of God faithfully, using Scripture to train members to do the work of ministry, to the praise of His glory.

4. That a hunger for studying the gospel would form among members so that they can guide and guard one another in it. 

5. That transparent, meaningful relationships would become common where the one-anothers of the NT are lived out. 

6. That God’s Word is faithfully preached—that it would be rightly divided and Spirit permeated. 

7. That God’s people would walk worthy of their calling, kept from temptation, complacency, idols, and worldliness. 

8. That the church’s songs would teach members to biblically give thanks, confess, lament, and praise. 

9. That the church’s prayers would be infused with biblical motivations, honesty, and humility. 

10. That the Sunday School/Nursery/Youth & Young Adults teachers grow in dedication to God’s Word. 

11. That the church would grow in being distinct from the world in love and holiness, even as it engages those outside.

12. That members would share the gospel as God gives opportunity—and see more conversions to the glory of God.

13. That hopes for political, social change would be outpaced by the hope of heaven.

14. That giving would be faithful, as well as joyful, consistent, and sacrificial.