Tag Archives: Philippians 4:6

Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out

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Don’t be afraid to reach out to others whenever you go through a rough spot.

I’ve said that to those around me. And I mean it. However, when I’m the one who needs to reach out, I find it easier to advise than to take my advice.

I’m a big advocate of prayer. I remind people often to share their concerns and requests so others can pray for them. When it comes time for me to share my concerns and requests, I’m hesitant.

Sure. I believe prayer is an essential part of our life and walk as Christ-followers. Absolutely. I pray for others daily. So why the reluctance on my part to ask for prayer? I believe it has something to do with the false and extremely dangerous belief I am to soldier through. Be strong. Overcome without asking for help. Don’t show weakness or be needy.

Does any of that resonate with how you feel at times? The old pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality?

Well, according to God, believing that way is just wrong.

As Rich Mullins sang, we are not as strong as we think we are.

The Bible tells us to cast all our cares on God because he cares for us. We are told when we are weak, Christ’s strength shows up in our weakness. We are told to lean into Jesus and let him share our burden. We are told to pray for one another. We are told to comfort as we have been comforted.

Nowhere does the Bible tell us to hold back in asking for prayer.

God places people in our lives to lift our needs before the Father’s throne. They can’t lift if they don’t know.

Right now, in this time and space, the stress of my broken hip; which is healing wonderfully, thank you, Jesus, is not friendly to my auto-immune diseases. Uncharacteristically, I asked my Bible study group to prayer specifically for the battle going on in my body. They were already praying for my hip’s healing, but this time I opened up more about my struggles and gave specifics.

Sometimes it is difficult to admit our weaknesses. Sometimes it is difficult to admit we struggle. Especially if we have encountered those who, again falsely, believe if we belong to Christ we’ll never face adversity. Jesus said in this world we WILL have trouble. He didn’t say we might.

Our strength comes from Christ alone. It’s not of our own making. For when we are weak, he is strong. His power works best in our weakness. His glory shines brightest through our brokenness. Prayer is a big part of taking our petitions to the Father on behalf of our self and others.

Have there been times you struggled with asking for specific prayer requests?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

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)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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God Is Good

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

During a recent conversation with Pie, he said he was glad something he wanted, prayed for, and was disappointed not to get, didn’t happen.

Hindsight, right?

I imagine we’ve all been there. There is that certain something, or somethings, we desperately desire. We take our request to God knowing he hears and answers prayer, only he doesn’t answer our prayer the way we hoped.

When we pray expecting God to answer our request as we want it answered, because we trust in his mercy and grace, we can also accept when he tells us no, because we trust in his mercy and grace.

When we go through that hurt and disappointment of a no, it’s rather difficult to count it all joy, or to believe God in his infinite wisdom did what was best for us. But that’s exactly what he did.

How many times have we asked God for something, and just like Pie, in hindsight, thanked him for not doing it?

For me, I’d have to say a lot of times.

It’s during those times we need to go back to what we know. God is good. Not just when things go smoothly for us. God is good all the time. That includes when things don’t go so smoothly for us.

Difficult.

My most vivid memory of beginning to accept this truth was decades ago, standing in a convention center surrounded by fellow Christians singing, “God is so good” while tears streamed down my face. I knew it to be true, but at that very moment events in my life were anything but good.

Even though the events in that situation were not good, God never changed.

He remained GOOD.

Isn’t that where we need to find ourselves?

Regardless of whether the things happening in our lives at this point in time are good, we declare God is good.

Like I said, difficult.

Have you had times when you prayed for something that didn’t come out the way you hoped, only to be grateful they didn’t?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. Philippians 4:6 (VOICE)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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