Daily Devotional
Do You Bring Your Desires to God?
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
September 21, 2024
Ponder This
When you pray, don’t get the idea that there are spiritual things you can ask for and secular things you cannot ask for. The Bible never divides life between the sacred and the secular. With God, every task is a holy task, and every day is a holy day. Can you imagine Jesus dividing His life into the sacred and the secular? Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Now, Father, when I preach, I want anointing, but the rest of the time I’ll do it Myself”? No, you see, “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” A good test as to whether you should move forward in an area is to consider if you can ask God to help you or ask God to do it through you with a clear heart and mind. Whatever you desire, tell God. Ask Him.
But what if you want the wrong thing? Tell Him. Say, “Lord, I want the wrong thing. Have mercy on me, O God. Fix my wants.” The truth is, you can’t hide from God. If you want it, He already knows it, doesn’t He? So, tell Him. Pray about everything. The responsibility for asking is ours. The responsibility for giving is God’s. Just ask. Learn to ask God for what you want and trust Him to respond in the way that is best.
- What is something you struggle to ask God for?
- What should we do when God’s answer to our prayer is different than we want?
Practice This
Pray and talk to God about your wants and needs.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
