“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Remember your school days—you likely raised your hand when you had questions or needed the teacher’s assistance. This practice is not exclusive to the West; many cultures worldwide have similar methods to signal the need for attention. With the advent of virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, the hand-raising feature serves an equivalent purpose. It alerts the meeting host that someone wants to be acknowledged.
In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul invites us to take all our requests to God. As believers, we know that God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). We might wonder if God knows everything about us—and He does—and if He is always with us through the Holy Spirit—which He is—why do we need to present our petitions to Him? Why doesn’t He immediately acknowledge our needs and work to divert our need for asking?
God often works in ways that we may not always perceive. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He intercedes without our knowing, working things for our good in His grace. While we may seldom be aware of His actions, we trust in faith that it is true. However, when things don’t make sense during those anxious moments, we may question and seek His help more actively.
Raising our hands, whether in a classroom, a virtual meeting, or in prayer, signifies our awareness of our need for His help and our willingness to engage with Him personally and intentionally. It also reflects our understanding that God’s default mode is to work for our good, even when our faith wavers.
Paul continues, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NIV). When we present our requests to God, we are not just making Him aware of our needs, which He already knows, but also actively placing our trust in His care and sovereignty. In doing so, we open ourselves to experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding—a peace that guards our hearts and minds, reassuring us of God’s constant presence and loving provision.
Moreover, we must remember that our communication with God should not be limited to times of need. As Paul urges, let our prayers be filled with thanksgiving, acknowledging God's goodness in all circumstances. In maintaining a grateful heart, we continually affirm our trust in God’s perfect plan and His unwavering love for us.
Father of Grace, we lift our hands in faith and thanksgiving. Thank You for Your constant presence and love. We present our needs to You, trusting in Your wisdom and peace. Strengthen our faith and remind us to give thanks always. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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