“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

When we pray, who changes? Do our prayers change God?

If we don’t pray for God’s blessing upon our families, was it God’s intent to not bless our families? If we don’t pray for God’s blessing upon our church and her ministry, was it God’s intent to not bless our church and her ministries?

Do our prayers change God?

Of course, that would be crazy. God already wants to bless our families and our churches. Then what changes when we pray?

The purpose of prayer isn’t to change God. The purpose of prayer is to change us; “that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

We are changed when we pray. We become more aware of God’s presence and his truth. We are changed by praying to God.

We pray, not so God will hear us, but so we will hear God.

“Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Pray instead of worrying.

Pray instead of stressing.

Pray instead of panicking.

Pray instead of overthinking.

Pray instead of assuming.

Pray instead of controlling.

Pray instead of wondering.

Pray instead of complaining.

Pray instead of whining.

Pray instead of seething.

No matter what you are faced with, in every situation – pray.

“Pray continually.”

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

You can worry or you can pray.

Pay attention to these words – “anything” and “every situation”.

“Do not be anxious” about some things?

Nope.

“Do not be anxious about ANYTHING.” That covers everything. There’s not one thing that we are to be anxious about.

Why is that? How can that be?

Because we are to pray, petition, and present our requests to God in some situations?

Nope.

“But IN EVERY SITUATION, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.”

Did you notice, I skipped a phrase? I did that on purpose. Because that little phrase is the key to this whole thing.

We are to pray, petition, and present our requests to God in every situation WITH THANKSGIVING. Isn’t that great? God wants us to pray, petition, and present our requests to God in every situation with thanksgiving because we know that God answers prayers! God wants us to thank him in advance because we know that God will work all things for the good for those who love him.

That’s pretty awesome!

Now, you need to know that this speaks to me as much as you. There are times when worry and anxiety gets the best of me. But worry and anxiety can’t do a darn thing. Worry and anxiety changes nothing. It only puts me in a bad mood.

So, you have a choice. You can either worry or you can pray?

So, what are you going to do?