Be Happy Anyway, Key #2: Prayer

The second in our series “Be Happy Anyway”, God teaches us the cure for all worry and anxiety; Prayer.

We also discover that His purpose in prayer is often much different than our own. Here is why the Lord commands us to “Pray without ceasing”.
God Bless,
Johnny

(Notes are below video)

NOTES:

BE HAPPY ANYWAY: THREE KEYS TO HAPPINESS

PART 2: PRAYER

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
16  Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing, 18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:4-8 (NKJV)
4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6  Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

WHY WORRY WHEN YOU CAN PRAY?

COMMANDED TO NOT BE ANXIOUS, WORRIED, FEARFUL, FRIGHTENED, STRESSED, PESSIMISTIC, …

 

THE PROMISE:

THE ANSWER, THE CURE, SOLUTION, PATH TO JOY AND HAPPINESS, PEACE AND OPTIMISM: PRAYER.

PRAYER IS TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH THE ALMIGHTY

TRADE: YOUR WORRIES FOR HIS PEACE

YOUR FEAR FOR HIS COURAGE

YOUR WEARINESS FOR HIS STRENGTH

YOUR DOUBT FOR HIS FAITH

YOUR NEED FOR HIS SUPPLY

 

BARRIERS TO PRAYER:

* FEAR. WE’RE INTIMIDATED BY HIM, AFRAID OF HIM. HE IS HOLY AND W RE NOT. THE AWARENESS OF OUR SINS AND SINFUL NATURE MAKES US AVOID HIM.

OT V. NT IS THAT GOD BECOMES APPROACHABLE.

“COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN…

“LET US GO BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE…

* WE HAVE A NEGATIVE VIEW OF GOD AND WE DON’T REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM. HE WANTS TO CONVICT US OF SIN, TELL TO STOP DOING EVERYHTING WE ENJOY, POINTS OUT OUR FAILURES…. WE EXPECT IT TO BE A NEGATIVE, UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE.

JESUS HAS SO MUCH MORE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAN YOUR FAILURES. HE’S NOT IN THE PRIMARY BUSINESS OF SCOLDING AND SHAMING YOU. YOUR SIN IS NOT THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOU.

DO YOU ONLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR CHILDREN AND FRIENDS WHANE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING RIGHT?

WHEN YOU TALK WITH YOUR KIDS AND FRIENDS DO YOU ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM, WHERE THEY FAIL, HOW THEY NEED TO STRAIGHTEN UP…?

GIVE THE ALMIGHTY SOME CREDIT. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN AND CALLS US TO BE HIS FRIENDS.

BESIDES, HE DOESN’T NEED YOUR PERMISSION OR ATTENTION TO CONVICT YOU OF SIN. WHEN ITS TIME TO DEAL WITH SIN, THEN DEAL WITH IT AND GET IT OUT OF THE WAY. MOVE ON TO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.

 

GOD’S PURPOSE IN PRAYER:

GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED; HE DOESN’T NEED YOU TO ET HIM KNOW

THEN WHY DOES HE INSIST SO OFTEN THAT WE PRAY?

COMMANDS, DARES, CHALLENGES US TO PRAY?

GOES BACK TO THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR EVERYTHING: HE WANTS TO INTERACT WITH HIS PEOPLE.

HE WANTS A FAMILY OF FRIENDS

HE DEMANDS A PARTNERSHIP, A UNION, A COOPERATION

PRAYER IS DIRECT INTERACTION WITH HIM. YOU CAN’T PRAY WITHOUT INTERACTING WITH HIM. YOU CAN’T MAKE SUPPLICATION, OR THANKSGIVING, OR LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWS TO GOD WITHOUT PERSONALLY INTERACTING, COOPERATING, AND BEING INVOLVED WITH AND AWARE OF HIM.

YOUR GOD IS BREATHTAKINGLY MAGNIFICENT! BUT YOU’LL ONLY DISCOVER THAT WITH A PRAYER LIFE.

 

PRODUCT OF PRAYER:

PEACE OF GOD

BEYOND REASON, BEYOND COMPREHENSION, BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND

WILL STAND GUARD AS SENTINEL OVER YOUR HEART AND MIND.

(YOU SHOULD GUARD YOUR HEART, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE; HE GUARDS IT WITH YOU)

SO TALK TO HIM. GET TO KNOW HIM. SPEND TIME WITH HIM. INCLUDE HIM IN EVERYTHING. STOP IGNORING HIM, LEAVING HIM OUT, AVOIDING HIM, RELEGAING HIM TO THE SIDELINES…

HE IS THE SOURCE OF POWER, STRENGTH, ANSWERS, DELIVERANCE, LOVE, JOY, PEACE…, HE IS THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD THINGS.

AND HE CALLS YOU TO LIVE CLOSE TO HIM.

SO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV)
15  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

NOT THE THRONE OF JUDGMENT TO GET WHAT YOU DESERVE, BUT THE THRONE OF GRACE TO RECEIVE EVERYTHING YOU DO NOT DESERVE: SALVATION, FORGIVENESS, THE CROSS, PROMISES, HEAVEN…