THE MOST UNOPENED GIFT…

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

OBSERVATION: Have you ever received a gift that you did not use? My wife and I love to go to antique stores and our neighborhood garage sale. Recently while going through an antique store I spotted a Lionel train set from the 1980s that was in an unopened, cellophane wrapped, original box!

This was a gift that someone never used!

As I think about the Christmas holiday, as the roads are filled with shoppers who are frantically trying to find just the right present for someone they love, I wonder – How many gifts are in their closets that they received in years past that were never opened, never used?

PRAYER is one of the most unused gifts that we have been given!

I am not talking about a prayer before a meal or the routine prayer one might say before they go to bed. I am speaking out the earnest cry of the heart of the believer at the throne of God. This is not a casual prayer. It is an act of worship. It is a living sacrifice before the throne of God. It is the difference between walking in peace or living in a constant state of anxiety.

I love these two short verses in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He is giving his closing remarks to the church in Philippi. He calls them to a life of rejoicing and moderation. Why does he do this? Paul says that this should be our posture in this life because – “…the Lord is at hand!” Then, knowing that the Philippian church would face times of trial and persecution, Paul writes,

• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is one of the most quoted sections in the Bible. Yet, I wonder if we understand it. Paul uses three keywords in this exhortation. To some degree they are repetitive. We are called to pray, offer supplications, and thanksgiving – all things we generally associate with prayer. Yet, within these three words, we get a deeper understanding of what Paul is calling us to.

The first word is PRAYER. Paul exhorts us not to be anxious about anything. Anxiousness is the opposite of faith. Instead, we are called to pray. The word translated prayer can mean either the act of prayer and worship or the place of prayer and worship. The key element in this word is worship. Paul is calling us to come apart from the struggles and demands of this life and to enter into the presence of God through worship. The idea is to position our hearts and minds so that we can hear God’s voice.

The second word is SUPPLICATION. I many times jokingly say that we are all born with a PHD in supplication. From the moment we are born we begin to supplicate. The word in Greek simply means needs. I think of the old hymn – “What a friend we have in Jesus.” How many times do we keep our deep needs hidden in our hearts? We forget to hear and obey Jesus’ command to “…Ask, Knock, Seek.” We are not specific in our prayers and we fail to ask.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

The last word Paul focuses on is THANKSGIVING. This is the call to spend as much time expressing our gratitude to God for His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness, as we do expressing our needs. So much of our prayer life can be focused around petitions that we forget to do important things.

We forget to worship – offer our lives as living sacrifices and listen to the still small voice of the Lord.

We forget to give thanks – express our trust in the Lord and our sincere gratitude for His faithfulness.

It is a GIFT to be able to come to the Lord in prayer. This is not only because we know we have someone who will listen. It is also because this call to prayer is filled with a wonderful promise. In the process of our time of worship, supplication, and thanksgiving – something wonderful happens. God removes the anxiety of our burdens and He replaces it with His abiding peace.

This peace is not the cessation of the struggle. Nor is it the immediate answer to our requests. There are times when we need to continue in prayer as we stand in faith for God’s answer. This peace is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the promise of God’s Word in our hearts. It is the assurance that God hears us and that He begins answering our prayers, according to His will, as we place them before His throne.

Imagine you had a great financial need. You were short on your house payment that was due in one week. Yet, you had a registered letter stating that you would receive the money needed days before the payment was due. Would you continue to fret in anxiety? Would you continue to lose sleep over the matter? Would you continue to complain and worry?

NO! You would begin to rejoice and give thanks. Your burden would be lifted and your heart would be filled with joy!

Such are the blessings with the GIFT OF PRAYER! We have the assurance of God’s love and faithfulness. We have His certified letter to us of His promises which find their Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus. And, we have the provision of His peace which surpasses all human understanding. It is His peace that keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – anchored in hope during the storms of life!

And, so we can sing the last stanza of the great hymn.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bearMay we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayerRapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Heavenly Father, as gifts are given and exchanged, help me to not neglect this great gift – the GIFT OF PRAYER! Help me to daily come before Your throne. First, to listen and worship. Second, to lay my burdens before You. Third, to give you thanks! Thank you for Your promise of Your peace as I do!

• “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14

In Jesus’ Name!