Let Your Request Be Known

"Be anxious of nothing, but in everything by prayer

and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your

requests be made known to God; and the peace

which surpasses all understanding, will guard

your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

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I have known people who have said, if you pray enough and have faith enough, God will give you what you ask for. But if you look at this verse you will see that what they have told me does not quite line up with what God Word says on the matter. Here it says, "Let your requests be made known." That means that we are to make requests of God, so yes, we need to pray, we need to bare our hearts to God. Another verse says, "Pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:17). So, yes, pray, and pray a lot. Matthew 17:20 says,"For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." So, I think the phrase, "If you only have enough faith, such and such will happen," is not quite right. Jesus said that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could do great things. So, I do not think this is a matter of having enough faith, or even asking enough times, I think this is a matter of understanding that God does not promise to always give us whatever we ask for.

~*~

What we often do not see is what comes later in Philippians 4. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." God does not promise to give us all that we desire and ask for. He promises only that no matter what His answer may be, whether yes or no, He will give us a peace that surpasses anything we can imagine. God knows what is best for us. Sometimes when we ask that a trial be removed, or that a wish might be granted, God says no because He knows that is not in our best interest. That does not mean He loves us less, but rather that He loves us more. Having the promise that no matter what answer He sends our way, He will also send us peace that goes beyond what we are now able to fathom, is one awesome promise.

~*~

Let your requests be made known to God today, and look for joy and peace in whatever answer He sends your way, knowing that no matter what, He will be with you.