Wednesday, January 19 – 1 Peter 5:7
My prayers are small compared to what is going on around us.
“having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.”
At some time or another, you have probably heard someone say the age-old phrase, “I just didn’t want to bother you.” Whether it comes after a miscommunication or a long time without interaction, it can be frustrating to be on the receiving end of this statement. Often, we would rather someone ask the question to get the details instead of assuming it would be a bother. If this is how we feel in a general interaction, imagine how God—our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer—feels when we do not come to Him. Prayer is much more than a laundry list of things we want God to do; it is a beautiful exchange where we align our hearts with His.
When we bring to Him our struggles, big and small, we recognize His place of authority in all things. Timothy Keller puts it this way, “To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.”[1] How marvelous that we can bring to God our anxiety as we sit in traffic the same way we can bring to Him our frustration with our finances. In all areas, He has given us the opportunity to come to Him and recognize His authority. In fact, He encourages it! He wants to carry our burdens because He cares about us. He knows we can’t carry this load on our own strength. Run to the Father, bringing your burdens and inconveniences. May this practice be built into the everyday moments as well as the times of need: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is more than an exhortation; this is God’s will for your life. It is a marvelous gift and calling. Will you accept it?
- What things are difficult for you to pray about? How does this verse address that?
- Have you ever considered prayer as a part of God’s will for your life? Why or why not?
Pray and talk to God about the things that are difficult for you to pray about. Thank Him for allowing us to bring before Him all our burdens, big and small.
[1] Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York: Penguin Books, 2016), 128.
