Let Petition Shape Your Worries

INTRODUCTION:

A tired-looking woman entered a grocery store and asked the owner for enough food to make a Christmas dinner for her children. When he inquired how much she could afford, she answered, “My husband was killed in an accident. Truthfully, I have nothing to offer but a little prayer.” Although the man was unmoved at first, he thought of a clever response to the woman’s simple request. “Write your prayer on a piece of paper and you can have its weight in groceries,” he said sarcastically. To his surprise, she plucked a folded note out of her pocket and handed it to him saying, “I already did that during the night while I was watching over my sick baby.” Without even reading it, he put it on one side of his old-fashioned scales. “We shall see how much food this is worth,” he muttered. To his dismay nothing happened when he put a loaf of bread on the other side. But he was even more upset when he added other items and it would not balance. Finally he blurted out, “Well, that’s all it will hold anyway. Here’s a bag. You’ll have to put these things in yourself. “I’m busy!” With a tearful “Thank you,” the lady went happily on her way. The grocer later discovered that the scales were out of order. As the years passed he often wondered if that was just a coincidence. Why did the woman have the prayer already written before he asked for it? Why did she come at exactly the time the mechanism broke? Whenever he looks at the slip of paper which bears that mother’s petition, he is amazed, for it reads, “Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread!”

 

SCRIPTURE READING:

Philippians 4:6-8 MSG
(6)  Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (7)  Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (8)  Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious–the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

 

TEXT VERSE:

Philippians 4:6 AB
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

 

Filipense 4:6 ANV
Moet oor niks besorg wees nie, maar maak in alles julle begeertes deur gebed en smeking en met danksegging aan God bekend.

 

DEFINITION AND MEANING OF THE PRAYER OF PETITION:

Petition – Webster’s Bible Dictionary

1. A request, supplication or prayer; but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication; a prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired.
2. A formal request or supplication, verbal or written; particularly, a written supplication from an inferior to a superior, either to a single person clothed with power, or to a legislative or other body, soliciting some favor, grant, right or mercy.

The Prayer of Petition is a formal request or a formal application usually in written form and it is based on truth and not assumptions.

The prayer of Petition is the kind of prayer that gives the quickest results when you face something in your life that seems impossible!

 

PREPARE AND CONSTRUCT THE PRAYER OF PETITION:

The prayer of petition requires diligent preparation. In preparing the prayer of petition, it is very important to first ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom. Now actively search the scriptures to find out what God says about your specific needs or situation.

The prayer of petition must be very specific – it is not a shotgun-prayer – it is an accurate and specific prayer regarding your needs or circumstances.

Do research to find out what God says about your need or situation in His Word.

It must address your need or situation. When you are trusting God for prosperity in the area of finances, trust God for scriptures regarding finances and prosperity.

When you trust God for healing, trust God for scriptures regarding healing.

Study different translations of the Bible.

Use the translation that speaks to you. When you learn how to construct, prepare and pray the prayer of petition, your prayer life will never be the same again!

Important things to remember regarding the prayer of petition:

• The prayer of petition is always supported by the known will of God. It is also supported by evidence and even facts based on the Word of God

• The prayer of petition requires diligent preparation.There are three major spiritual weapons we should use in prayer – including the prayer of Petition:

1. The Holy Spirit: In preparing the prayer of petition, it is very important to first ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.
   Ephesians 2:18 NLT
   Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
2. The Word of God: Actively search the scriptures to find out what God says about your specific needs or situation. When you know what the Word says and you include it in your petition, you have complete confidence that God is hearing you when you pray and you have complete confidence in Him fulfilling your request!
   Isaiah 55:11 NKJV
   So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please,And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
   Do research to find out what God says about your need or situation in His Word. It must address your need or situation. Study different translations of the Bible. Use the translation that speaks to your heart.
3. The name of Jesus: Everything is subject to the Name of Jesus! Everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth is subject to His name!
   Many years ago I received in the mail a gift check for R100, but my joy was short-lived when I found out that the sender forgot to sign it! Legally that check is worthless without a valid signature. We don’t pray by the authority of just any name under Heaven. Rather, we pray to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Jesus is the only way to the Father and there is no other mediator

John 14:14 NKJV
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

The prayer of petition must be very specific. It is an accurate and specific prayer regarding your needs or circumstances.

 

PRAY THE PRAYER OF PETITION:

Know that God loves you and that He heard and answered your prayer of petition!

You prepared and constructed your prayer of petition by writing it down.

Then when you and your spouse come together – if that is the case – pray the prayer of petition, present it before God and say: “Amen – so be it!”

Now sign the prayer of petition, both you and your spouse – if that is the case.

Have an expectancy that God heard you and that He answered you!

Put your petition before God every day and say: “Father I believe that I receive!”

 

CONCLUSION:

Psalm 118: 29 NLT
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Thanksgiving and praise is of the utmost importance and should be included in the prayer of petition! Now, thank God and praise His name for the outcome with the right attitude of heart! It shows that you trust Him and it shows your faith in His integrity!

So after your prayer of petition, immediately go into praise and thanksgiving!

The prayer of petition with thanksgiving instead of worry and anxiety creates a sense of God’s wholeness within you!

Philippians 4:6 AB
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Philippians 4:6-8 MSG
(6)  Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (7)  Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (8)  Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious–the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

God will fulfil all your petitions

Psalm 20:5 AB
We will [shout in] triumph at your salvation and victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfil all your petitions.