Stay Awhile
Do you know what the most searched, downloaded and shared Bible verse was in 2019?
According to the YouVersion Bible app it was Philippians 4:6:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
People around the world have a lot of worries and are searching for answers.
A Man With Troubles
Paul the Apostle wrote these words almost two thousand years ago. He understood trouble. He was in prison for preaching publicly when he wrote his letter to the Philippians; he didn’t know whether he would ever leave his dark cell, or even if he would live or die. The order for his execution could come down at any moment.
So when Paul said “Don’t worry about anything” was he merely writing a hopeful platitude?
Or was he giving his readers a helpful practice to use in their lives?
No Time for Platitudes
Paul didn’t have time for platitudes. When he told his hearers how to deal with anxiety, he was speaking from personal experience. Prison was not his first go around with fear and pain. Over the years he was beaten, chased out of town, threatened by mobs, and stoned. He learned how to deal with high anxiety and pressure so he could keep going. His go-to practice was:
- Pray about everything
- Tell God what he needed
- Thank God for what he had already done
This was not a hit and run prayer practice. Paul put time into this kind of prayer.
In 1 Thessalonians he says:
“Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18)
Paul stayed awhile in the Lord’s presence when he prayed. He prayed until answers came, and he kept on praying until he was overcome with gratitude. He lived as a thankful man.
Keep on Praying
What if God never answers our prayers in the way we hope? How can we be thankful then?
James, a young man I knew some years ago, got cancer and faced the prospect of dying way too soon. His kids were still in school. His business was booming and he had a glowing reputation for integrity and generosity in the community. His friends couldn’t bear the thought of losing him and his wife dreaded the prospect of being deprived of the love of her life.
We prayed with all our hearts that God would heal James; he prayed for that, too.
The months went by and treatments failed until our friend was in his final days. Death didn’t come easily, but he met it with serenity. He knew God was answering his prayers even if the answers were different than he hoped. Jim had peace in the midst of pain.
Last Words
At his memorial one of his buddies shared the source of James’s tranquility. At home he had an extra wide chair where he sat to read his Bible and pray every morning. He invited the Lord to sit with him and together they worked through his worries. He prayed for his family, his friends and his business. He stayed and prayed until he released his troubles to God and became a grateful man.
How do we know this about James?
He kept a journal of his experiences with God in prayer. He shared his journal with his family and friends, and one friend read excerpts from it at his memorial.
James wrote everyday until he couldn’t write anymore and eventually there was just one final entry that summed up how he felt about God and the life he had been given.
It simply said . . . “I am a blessed man.”
Stay Awhile
Would you like to live feeling like a blessed person? Then God wants you to stay awhile when you pray. He knows you have worries and he wants you to bring them to him. He needs you to wait with him. He will use that time to change you and give you peace. Watch and pray; see what God does when you stay awhile.