The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Before Ye Ask"
"Prayer does not inform God, nor does it awaken Him to venture to the scene of our difficulty or need. Prayer rather informs and awakens us."
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
The Prince of peace desires our hearts to be at peace. The Lord Jesus Christ works mightily to make this possible and actual in those who have received His grace by faith. The promise of "I will dwell in them and walk in them" applies particularly to His working to lead us to faith since "the just shall live by faith" (II Corinthians 6:16; Romans 1:17). This we must perceive and believe because the Apostle Paul clearly tells us in his charge to the Philippians referenced above that we play a role by faith in whether we know the peace of the Prince, or not. The prophet Isaiah concurs. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3)
Space does not permit more than a brief consideration of our calling to know God's peace through a life of grateful prayer and supplication. For the moment, let us consider Paul's interesting mandate that we "let your requests be made known unto God" - who knows exactly what we require of Him long before we even realize we have a need. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him" (Matthew 6:8). This directs us to a proper perception of God, which leads to our practice of prayer, and the realized peace of the Prince. Hear the Psalmist in such awareness and affirmation.
"Thou art my rock and fortress… Thou art my hiding place… Thou art my help and deliverer… Thou art my hope… Thou art my Father, my God" (Psalm 31:3; 32:7; 40:17; 71:5; 89:26
Personally apply these assurances to any temptation to insecurity that occupies the present moment. Our Heavenly Father has known "from everlasting" that we would face the challenge. We do not pray to inform God, nor to awaken Him to venture to the scene of our difficulty or need. Prayer rather informs and awakens us. That is, as we pray in response to the Holy Spirit's leading and the Bible's promised-infused commands to seek our Heavenly Father, the eyes of our hearts open to His presence, promise, and power to be everything we require. This includes the challenge of the present moment in your life and mine. We direct our request to the One who has been aware and ready "from everlasting" to address the need, and to fill our hearts with the peace of the Prince regarding it (Psalm 90:2).
The better we know this truth about God, among countless other glories of His knowledge, disposition, and ability, the more we will naturally (supernaturally) respond in faith. We trust someone to the degree we know them. This especially applies to God and our walk with Him. Paul's charge that we "let your requests be made known unto God," coupled with the Lord Jesus' blessed assurance that "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him," will go far in our hearts to lead us in "prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving" whereby "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."
(Psalm 56:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
(Philippians 2:4)
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