The Joyful Prayer of Faith

City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

Choose Joy – Part Eight Philippians 4:4-7

What does the joyful prayer of faith sound like?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:4-7 ESV

Rejoice – choosing to express the emotion evoked by well-being, contentment, and great happiness

Philippians theme: faith-filled thoughtful joy, focused on Jesus, regardless of circumstances

Reasonableness – being equitable, gracious, and forbearing, doing what is right,

“The Lord is at hand;” – Jesus Christ our Savior Lord and King is nearby and returning soon

Anxious – having an anxious concern, based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune

“Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?” – Luke 12:25

Prayer – to ask, make requests of God, petition, intercession

“Jesus went up on a hill by himself to pray.” – Matthew 14:23

Supplication – to ask urgently for needs to be met,

Thanksgiving – to give thanks with pleasant gratitude

Having received new spiritual life from our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can now choose to let go of our anxious worries. We can celebrate who Jesus is and who we are in this relationship with Him. We thank God. In the same breath, we can make requests of God. Our God protects our ways of thinking and feeling. In these moments, we receive a peaceful state of mind and heart from God.

What does a faith-filled joyful prayer sound like?

1. Choose faith-filled joy in a moment of silence, reflecting on who God is and what God has already done.

2. Choose to believe that God is Provider and Protector.

3. Start prayer with wholehearted praise, devotion, and thanksgiving.

4. Let go of anxious worries.

5. Make specific requests of God (including intercession).

6. Receive God’s peace.

7. Breathe and express faith-filled love to God.

What are the benefits? Philippians 4:7

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7 ESV

Peace – a state of being in good health: able to function at full capacity, able to rest, and free from conflict or danger in every area of your life and in every relationship.

“Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1

Guard – to protect, keep from danger, protect with a military guard, prevent hostile invasion,