First Things First



Read Philippians 4:6-76

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (TNIV)



When faced with a threat, we might instinctively panic, or become anxious, or run away. Then again, if we claim to trust in God we might pray. And when we so pray, we might find ourselves still panicking, still worrying, still fleeing. It is as if prayer is a mere form of words that haven’t done the slightest good.Perhaps the reason is that we have rushed to pour out our troubles to God without giving any consideration to what it is we are actually doing. Or without considering the one to whom we pray. Paul tells us to bring all our concerns to God, but that we are to do with thanksgiving. Meaning we are to remind ourselves of just who this God is. Doing so, we recall his greatness, goodness, faithfulness and mercy. We put our threats into that context.Our first task when faced with a threat is to worship God. In doing so we remind ourselves that whatever threatens us is not the overarching reality. God is greater than those threats. But we only conclude that by taking time to thank him.God wants to hear our anxieties. But he wants to relieve them. And he does so by urging us to fill our minds and hearts with him, not with our circumstances. Prayer in this way becomes not an expression of fear but a glad reminder that there is one who is greater than our fears.



Blessings David



www.hope1032.com.au

LifeWords Devotional with David R.