Pray

7 City Church - Texas

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Part 2

February 10, 2020

Monsters Under My Bed
Pray

Philippians 4:4-9 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Two Dimensions of Prayer:

1. The
Width
of Prayer
Philippians 4:6a (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 55:22 (MSG) – Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.

Psalm 27:8 (NLT) – My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

2. The
Depth
of Prayer
• “Prayer”: Pray
Intimately

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…

• “Supplication”: Pray
Passionately

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…

James 5:16b (NLT) – The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

• “Requests”: Pray
Boldly

Philippians 4:6b (NKJV) – …let your requests be made known to God.

“10 years ago, I began waging, what would turn out to be, a 7-year war with God. Yes, it actually took this stubborn woman 7 years to realize that I was never going to win a war with God. In the beginning, my prayers were simple: “Please, Lord, let me have a baby.” But even my most persuasive conversations with God, were followed by years of disappointment, fertility treatments and 3 miscarriages. Eventually, I was so broken that I had no fight left in me. I finally surrendered.

My prayers shifted to, “Lord, please grant me acceptance and peace in my heart. Help me let go of my dreams and trust that your plan is best.” These were the hardest words for a total control freak to say. God knew, under no uncertain terms, that I still thought his plan sucked. However, I was finally willing to try things his way. It was amazing how quickly that peace crept into my life. Michael and I both reached a point of complete contentment with where we were in our lives…to the point where we almost gave up entirely on the idea of having a baby.

It was more out of fear of regret that we decided to use the last few embryos and give it one more try. We agreed that no matter what happened, this was the end…and if we didn’t get a baby, we’d get a dog! We both assumed we would be getting a dog and were just as excited about that.”

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) – and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

“So, on this day, when I’m looking with complete awe at our baby girl Ainsley, I encourage all of you to surrender to God. Don’t waste years fighting. Stop praying that God will see things your way, and start accepting that he has an amazing plan for you. It may not be on your timeline, and it may not be where you think you want to head, but he has amazing things in store for you. And in the end, you just might be more fulfilled and grateful than you ever thought possible.”

Think Positively

February 23, 2020

Monsters Under My Bed Think Positively Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) – Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV) – For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 4:23 (NCV) – Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Romans 12:2 (NIV) – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Give Thanks

February 17, 2020

Monsters Under My Bed Give Thanks Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Three Types of Thanks: 1. END Thanks Philippians 1:3-5 (NLT) – Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 2. IN Thanks 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) – “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 3. FOR Thanks 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (MSG) – “Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first, I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” “I realized the missing ingredient in my prayers had been “with thanksgiving.” So I put down my Bible and spent time worshipping Him for who He is and what He is. This covers more territory than any one mortal can comprehend. Even contemplating what little we do know dissolves doubts, reinforces faith, and restores joy. I began to thank God for giving me this one I loved so dearly in the first place. I even thanked Him for the difficult spots which taught me so much. And you know what happened? It was as if suddenly someone turned on the lights in my mind and heart, and the little fears and worries which, like mice and cockroaches, had been dibbling away in the darkness, suddenly scuttled for cover. “ (Adapted from Worry Less, Live More, Robert J. Morgan, p. 72)

Rejoice

February 2, 2020

Monsters Under My Bed Rejoice 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NLT) – When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him. 2 Corinthians 7:5 (NLT) – When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 (NIV) – Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Philippians 4:4-6 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) – and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Two Ways to Rejoice: 1. Rejoice with Your Will Max Lucado: “This verse is a call, not to a feeling, but to a decision and a deeply rooted confidence that God exists, that he is in control, and that he is good.” James 1:2 (NLT) – Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 2. Rejoice with Your Worship Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) – The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!