Have You Prayed About It?

During a person’s first visit to my clinic, they’ll spend the first 10-15 minutes giving me all the details of how their particular injury affects their ability to live. They will usually describe how it’s affecting their social life, ability to do their work, ability to clean their home, or even sleep. Sometimes over the course of that visit the person will bring up the topic of their faith, and sometimes I’ll feel prompted to ask, “Have you been praying about this?” Astonishingly, many times the answer is no. It’s interesting to me that there can be something in our lives that is impactful enough to affect multiple facets of our lives but seems to us too unimportant to bring to God.

Another thing we might do, is talk about these things with our friends, co-workers, or family, before going to God with it. It’s not bad to seek wisdom, advice, or help from others, but perhaps the way we go about doing that should be shaped by the confidence we have that Christ is at work in our lives, and we should go to God first. Maybe we will be less anxious on the phone with our friends and sharing about our current trials, if we have an open dialogue with the creator of heaven, earth, and mankind first. Maybe putting God first in our lives includes letting him be the shoulder we lean on/cry on the most.

Prayer has the remarkable ability to keep us from sweating the small stuff and to remind us that we are not alone in all the big stuff.

For example, if you are like me, praying for our families keeps us from worrying about what we will wear in our upcoming family photos and instead shifts our focus to praising God for a family to have photos with. It gets us thinking about how much God has provided for us; the fact that we have clothes to wear, but even if we didn’t we are still rich in love because nothing can take Christ away from us.  We are never alone, abandoned or forgotten by God. Prayer reminds us that there is a powerful, loving God who is invested in our lives and has asked us to humbly come before him with everything.

Is there something in your heart or mind that keeps coming up? Is there a difficult problem you could use help with or something you’ve been wondering for a long time? Do you need things to change in your life? Are you worried or anxious? Do you need healing? Have you prayed about it?

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:5-7