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Text: Philippians 4:6,7
A few weeks ago we looked at Mark 11 and found some lessons about believing prayer. If we pray in faith God will help us.
Sometimes when we pray the answers come immediately. But sometimes they don’t…
This morning we want to think about peace in unanswered prayer. We need to pray earnestly about our burdens and still find peace in God when things don’t go the way we want.
Verse 6: don’t panic… pray
Verse 7: have peace in prayer
Surrender:
Remember the example of Christ in the garden and like Him, say, “Thy will, not mine be done.”
Even in the events of Calvary Jesus was more at peace than anyone else. Paul prayed for the removal of the thorn in the flesh… and received grace more than what was sufficient.
So we pray, and we struggle, but we say, “Thy will be done.”
There are, of course, some things to which we don’t surrender such as besetting sin.
Expectancy:
Prayer changes things. Things happen that would not otherwise happen when we pray.
“My soul waits for the Lord…” Like the night watchman we wait for the Lord in our prayer. And we wait with hope because we expect something from God.
Waiting:
Waiting is not casual, or thoughtless. It is waiting on God… “God will hear me”.
Waiting on the Lords means worship. “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving”.
(Colossians 4:2) – Sometimes God allows hard things to discipline us.
(Isaiah 30:18) – God is doing things in us as we wait on Him.
On the one hand we are to rest and be still. On the other, there are things to do. (I Peter 3:1,2)
Waiting on the Lord means patience and contentment. “Give us this day our daily bread…”
In tribulation we are still called to patient endurance.
Psalm 31:24
Continue earnestly in prayer… Be persistent.
And then there is peace… Philippians 4:6,7
This peace is communion with God. It is nothing less than the presence of God in our hearts.
It strengthens us. It strengthens our faith and our fruitfulness. It guards our hearts.
Concerns and distresses can cripple our confidence and lead to complaining and grumbling. But if we take them as signals to pray, it can make a difference in us and around us. By this we can grow closer to God.
What a friend we have in Jesus!
The angels announced peace on earth. And when Jesus left the earth, He left us His peace. “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”