Presenting Needs With Thanks

Yesterday morning in church, we did something that was quite impactful. After our pastor reminded us of the things that God has been speaking about Moving Forward this year, including some of the key things that we need to do in order to do so, he had us take a card that was in the seatback in front of us, and write the things that we need from the Lord, and on the other side, our thanksgiving to God for all that He has done. Once we had completed our card, we took it to a box up front, and then partook in communion. The cards will be burned, as they are our offerings before the Lord.

 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

 

The remarkable thing to me, was I knew exactly what need I was to write down to present before Him. If anyone had asked me to verbalize a need, I might not have been able to answer so quickly. There was something about the process that facilitated transparency before God. Just as easily as I had written down the need, my list of thanks for God’s faithfulness freely flowed. To look back over the past year, despite the difficulties, He has been overwhelmingly faithful, every step of the way. Interestingly enough, my heart had been agitated all morning. Though I had prayed and spent intentional time with Him, there was just something that continued to press in that place that prevents peace. The action of identifying the area of my own need, presenting my request to God with thanksgiving, remembering where He had been faithful before, and then spending time thanking Him, brought peace. Though there is no “formula” to find peace, God is faithful to meet us in our place of unrest as we seek Him and place our trust in His goodness and grace. He is enough to overcome the biggest barriers that seem to stand in our way. Our job, is to trust Him to get us where we need to go. Sometimes it is over them, sometimes through them, and other times, He leads us around that which seems impossible to traverse. May we choose prayer over worry, and place our trust in God. Let us tell Him what we need and thank Him for all that He has done. May we recognize His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding, as our hearts and minds are protected through living in Christ.

 

Dear heart, don’t worry,

instead, choose to pray;

tell God what you need,

and thank Him today.

For His peace will come,

through our choice to trust;

not working harder,

just pray, thank Jesus.

Remember the times,

He’s been there before;

for faith shall rise up,

and our hearts trust more.

The God of all peace,

shall guard heart and mind;

for those who choose seek,

forever will find.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we need not worry about anything, but rather we ought to present our requests before You. Thank You that You hear our prayers and are faithful to answer and bring Your perfect peace. Forgive us for our anxiousness that rises up as we choose to try to navigate on our own. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would identify our own areas of need, present them before You, remember the times that You have been faithful before, and give You all of our gratitude – for You are so faithful. Show us how to love others with Your love that presents peace, even in places where peace makes no sense. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose trust instead of worry, and allow Your peace to reign in our hearts and minds as we give You all of our thanks and praise. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

For the Lord your God will bless you, …and your joy will be complete. – Deuteronomy 16:15