Psalm 27:14 - Wait for Jehovah

^ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 -- Pray Without Ceasing

Psalm 18:3 -- I will call upon Jehovah

Psalm 62:5 - My Expectation

01-30 - Luke 18:1 - Always Pray

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not become weary — Luke 18:1, RLIV.

In praying to our Heavenly Father, we should endeavor to pray only for we know is in harmony with the righteous principles as found in the Bible. Our requests in prayer should always include the thought: Father, if it is your will. Only if our prayer is in harmony with the will of our Heavenly Father can we be assured of results. 

Nevertheless, more specifically, Jesus appears to be praying as means to maintain faithfulness to the Heavenly Father. For such, whatever we are doing each day, our thoughts should in prayer to the Heavenly Father for guidance and strength to glorify him no matter what our circumstances may be in life, that we might do whatever would be in accordance with His will,. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Related Scriptures:

Isaiah 62:6,7; Psalm 118:5; Matthew 15:27,28; 21:22; Luke 2:37; 11:5-13; 21:36; John 15:7; 16:23; Romans 12:12; 2 Corinthians 12:8,9; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:14; 3:22; James 1:5,6; Jeremiah 29:13.

Father, to You We Look

Father, to you we look in all our sorrow,

Thou art the fountain whence our healing flows;

Dark though the night, joy cometh with the morrow,

Safely they rest who in thy love repose.

When fond hopes fail and skies are dark before us,

When the vain cares that vex our life increase—

Comes with its calm the thought that you are o’er us,

And we grow quiet folded in your peace.

In name of our Lord Jesus. Amen

Adapted from poem by Frederick Hosmer

Related Online (We do not necessarily agree with all statements presented by others)

The Province of Prayer

The Prayers of the New Creation

The Privilege and Power of Prayer

Praying Effectively

Importuning in Prayer

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Philippians 4:6 - In Nothing Be Anxious

{Philippians 4:6} In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - RLIV.

THE question may arise, Why will not God give us the things which He sees us to need without our making petition to Him and claiming His promises? Undoubtedly because we need previously to come into the proper attitude of heart to receive His favors and to be advantaged by them. Even as it is, we may be sure that we do not sufficiently appreciate the divine care bestowed upon us hitherto and now. Even in the attitude of prayer and thanksgiving we probably do not discern one-half of our causes for gratitude, as we shall see them by and by, when we shall know even as we are known. -- Charles Taze Russell, Excerpt from "Rejoice in the Lord Alway", The Watch Tower, January 1, 1903, page 5 (quote is from page 8, Reprints page 3128).

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If our hearts are overly-anxious about life's affairs we are surely being robbed of rest and peace, which, in turn, would indicate a lack of faith. In everything, in affairs in the home, in business cares, in guidance of wayward children, in poverty, in all trials, cares, temptations, wants, woes, disappointments, calamities, failures, etc., we should always cast our burden on Jehovah through prayer, and we are assured that He will sustain us. (Psalm 55:22) At the same time, we should constantly be thankful for whatever His providences may allow. The thankful heart of the child of God recognizes that He who favored us and redeemed us through His Son will even more so favor us and do for us now that we are His. 

We doubt that any of God's people will claim that their lives are 100% without anxiety. Nevertheless, when we get any kind of anxious feeling, we should immediately take the matter to the Heavenly Father in prayer, and leave it with him. Doing so will alleviate the anxiety that might otherwise cripple our faith and servitude of our Father through Jesus. Additionally, we should always keep in mind what Paul stated: "Rejoice in Jehovah always! Again I will say, Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4, RLIV) While it may be difficult to have rejoicing in our hearts while undergoing unpleasant circumstances, such rejoicing will help alleviate anxiety and make all distressing experiences more bearable.

Sadly, many in the world make requests to stars, cakes, Santa Claus, and many other things. Paul tells us that we should make our requests, our petitions, known to God, our Heavenly Father. In whatever we ask of the Father, however, it should not be for the satisfaction of the desires of our sinful flesh. James tells us, "You ask, and don't receive, because you ask amiss, so that you may spend it for your pleasures." (James 4:3, World English) Prayers for fleshly desires may actually increase anxiety rather than alleviate anxiety. Our prayers should always be in harmony with what Jesus said to his Father: "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."  (Luke 22:42, World English) Again, this should be from the heart, not just an outward expression, otherwise, our hearts may become subject to anxiety. 

Paul also mentions thanksgiving. Heartfelt thanksgiving shows appreciation for the Heavenly Father's provisions, not just for any fleshy sustenance, but more importantly, for all help along spiritual lines. Such thankfulness, however, should be not simply a matter of words recited by the mouth, but it should come from the inner being of the child of God. 

-- Ronald R. Day, Sr. (ResLight)

Related:

BSM Aids * Video

Cast Your Care Upon Him

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