“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT)

We pray because it’s what Jesus instructed us to do. We pray because it’s God’s appointed way for us to obtain things from Him. And, thirdly, we pray because it’s the way by which God helps us overcome our anxiety and worry.

Struggles with anxiety have reached a crisis point in our culture. Our media thrive on bad news and dire predictions. So, if you’re paying attention, you can find something to worry about every day concerning your health, your safety, your family, and your finances. The relentless assault of these troubles and pseudo-troubles can take a toll on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Someone once said, “If your knees are shaking, kneel on them.” That’s a simplification of the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6–7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (NLT).

That’s not just good spiritual advice; it’s also good practical advice. Worrying doesn’t help anything. It’s a complete waste of time. In fact, the word worry comes from an old English word that means “to strangle” or “to choke.” That’s what worry does. It chokes you. It cuts the air off. There’s no good in it. Someone once said, “Worry is interest paid on troubles that seldom come due.”

One of the things that makes worry and anxiety such formidable foes is that we don’t always know when they’re going to strike. We jolt awake at three in the morning, suddenly panicking over something that had barely registered before. Instead of allowing that panic to build, try saying a quick prayer. “Lord, there’s nothing I can do about this situation right now. So, I’m giving it to you. This is your problem. I’m going back to sleep. I’ll talk to you when I get up.”

The apostle Peter wrote, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). Yes, God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can see the perfect solution to every problem, and He has the power to implement any strategy, even if it seems impossible. But what makes Him the perfect Ally against worry and anxiety is that He cares about us. And not just in a general “God loves everyone” sense. He knows everything about us and cares about us individually. He wants the very best for us.

So, don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.

Reflection question: What worries or cares do you need to give to God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:2 NLT)

Jesus made it clear that prayer is essential to our spiritual growth and well-being. He prioritized prayer during His time on earth, and He expects us to prioritize it as well. That’s the first reason to pray.

The second reason is found in James 4:2: “You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it” (NLT). Prayer is God’s appointed way for us to obtain things from Him.

“You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” Have you ever considered that there are things God wants to do in your life that haven’t happened simply because you’ve failed to ask Him?

Sometimes we make the mistake of viewing prayer as a last resort, the option to consider when nothing else works. If we’re struggling with a physical ailment, we try home remedies, doctors, prescriptions, and specialists. It’s only when the diagnosis turns bleak that we turn to God. Yet the Gospels are filled with stories of people who were healed because they reached out to Jesus.

The same goes for financial problems. We exhaust every possible option for loans or guidance before we pray about the crisis. Even though the Bible promises, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT).

Whether you’re struggling in your relationship, worrying about a prodigal child, dealing with mental health issues, or looking for answers, God wants to be involved. He wants to be your first call. Give the situation to Him in prayer and let Him guide you.

Asking God for what you want is no guarantee that you will get it. And that’s a good thing. God sees the big picture. He understands that what seems like the best solution or course of action in the short term isn’t always best. So, when we ask Him for something, He can help us see the better alternative. Even if He doesn’t reveal His answer right away, you’ll feel a sense of relief and hope simply by involving Him.

So, if there’s something you want from God, ask Him. Not just once or twice, but until you get an answer from Him.

Reflection question: What are some things in your life that might fall into the category of “you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it”? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

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“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (Luke 18:1 NLT)

We’ve talked about the how and when of prayer, but what about the why? Why should we pray? The short answer is that Jesus told us to. In Luke 18:1, He shows His followers that “they should always pray and never give up” (NLT). Is there any better reason than that?

Doctors recommend certain things for our health. We may not always understand why they’re beneficial—only that they are. The same thing goes for Jesus’ instruction to pray. We may not know why or how, but good things happen when we pray.

It’s important to note, too, that Jesus wasn’t a do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do type of guy. Though He was God in human form, He maintained a very active prayer life. Before He fed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish, “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people” (John 6:11 NLT).

Matthew 19:13 says, “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them” (NLT).

Before He raised Lazarus from the dead, “Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me’” (John 11:41–42 NLT).

When His arrest was at hand, Jesus retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane. “He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine’” (Luke 22:41–42 NLT).

On the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT); “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT); and “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46 NLT).

Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (NLT). He was refreshed and reenergized by the time He spent in fellowship and conversation with God. If Jesus felt the need to pray, we should, too.

We could point out that praying is not a difficult task. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:30 NLT).

We could point out that Jesus gave us the instructions we need to establish and maintain an active, vital prayer life when He taught His disciples to pray in Luke 11:1–13. We could point out that He modeled prayer for us throughout the Gospels.

But all we need to know is that Jesus instructed us to pray. “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me’” (John 14:23–24 NLT).

That’s all the reason we need to pray.

Reflection question: When do you feel the need to pray? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.