Choosing!

Worry; Pray! 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6 KJV

The natural man is built to worry. The cares of this world can be pretty overwhelming, and some of these cares are pretty legitimate too. Food, clothing and shelter are basic human needs, and man would usually go to any length to secure these. Yet, Paul seems to be saying: You cannot secure anything by worry or anxiety, not even legitimate needs. My worrying does not provide the needs, neither would it guarantee me tomorrow. So, why then do we keep worrying? Back to the point above: the natural man is built to worry.

Today's extract says: do not let anything at all, no matter how legitimate or important, take your heart away from God. And it matters what you do with the worry. Because misery loves company, some will call a pity party, looking for other miserable people to share doom and gloom with. God is saying: seek the God who delights in hearing you speak, and who has the answer you seek. It may not always be what you want to hear, but when the connection is right, the answer you get will never be as important as keeping the fire of the relationship burning.

It is this relationship that sustains you through the uncertainties and complexities of life. That is why the passage says I must do my prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Nothing is too big or small to take to God. And it is EVERYTHING, not most things. We think God should not be bothered by some mundane things, but there is nothing ordinary or mundane about me, created in God's likeness and gifted for dominion. It may not look like it now, but the fact that I am alive means that as long as I keep hold of God, I am taking steps towards the fulfilment of God's purpose for my life, as well as eternal life with God.

It also means I cannot do both: worry and pray at the same time. Both are full options; you cannot deal in half measures. My heart wasn't built for such inconsistencies. If you don't do one, it means you are doing the other. It is prayer that God prescribes as his tool for talking with us, and making known His will and purpose. You won't find his will in popular opinion or human applause. God doesn't need to win a popularity contest as He does not force Himself on anyone. He simply tells me what I stand to gain from coming to Him, and as He is the owner of heaven and earth, all He has made will respond to His command. Make the approach today; He waits. His time of favour is here.