Susan’s flower garden.

By Tom Shanklin

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6, KJV.

I have found a very effective solution when I find myself in a dilemma, Pray!

The other day Susan and I were at the mall where we walk and pick up our mail, and when we were ready to leave, the car would not start. It had been an intermittent problem for a several weeks.

My car operates without a key. You simply have the key in the car, and then you use a push button on the dash. Fancy! However, from time to time it simply would not start. Then we would push the button again and again and finally it would start. This time, however, it would not start.

So here we were in the parking lot next to the mall. It was very hot and the sun was shining through the windshield and my car wouldn’t start. In that situation, there’s a temptation to be upset, fearful, angry or frustrated.

But then I remembered Philippians 4:6. So in heat of the moment (literally), Susan and I prayed. I quoted Philippians 4:6 to the Lord and committed the problem to the Him. Then I called the shop and they were able to get the car in right away, which is unusual for them. That was good, because we needed the car to drive to Minneapolis the next day. Then Susan kept trying the push button, since she has the touch:-), and the car started. We drove home, got her car, and dropped off my vehicle at the shop.

Within a short time they called and said the problem was the brake light switch. The brakes must be engaged in order for the car to start. Even though it was very late in the afternoon, they were able to get a new switch and install it before the end of the day. Of course, since the brake light switch was not working that meant we had no brake lights. So, not only was my problem fixed, but we avoided a significant safety issue as well.

I cannot tell you how many times this verse has gotten me out of a jam. It just seems that God honors His Word when you apply the Scripture in prayer. Many times I have found myself fretting over a situation and wondering what to do, and then I will remember this scripture. Then I will say, “Lord, you said. ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be known unto God.’ So I bring my petition to you concerning this issue. Thank you Lord for working it out. I can’t solve it, so I give it you and I thank you for it and for all you have done for me through Jesus your Son. Amen.”

Many times, the answer comes very quickly, as it did with my car. But there are also times when it takes some time for things to change. Thanksgiving will help sustain your faith while you are waiting for the answer to manifest.

Here’s my paraphrase of Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about a thing. But every time you have a need, let God know about it. And while you’re praying, be sure and thank Him for the answer and all He has done and is doing in your life.”

The power of thanksgiving is a great tool in releasing your faith in prayer. Faith takes hold of the thing that you are asking for BEFORE you see the manifestation of it. As Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24, KJV.

“When you pray,” He said, “believe that you receive.” He didn’t say anything about waiting for the manifestation of the answer to that prayer before you believe.

So when you make your request and you believe you receive the answer, it’s time to start praising God. As Paul said, “…with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6, KJV. So don’t leave out the “with thanksgiving” part. Start praising God immediately for the answer.

Think of it this way. If you made a request to the Lord for a need in your life and Jesus walked in your living room and sat down and said, “Your prayer has been received and I am giving you what you requested,” the normal thing would be to start jumping up and down and praising God for His love and miraculous provision.

Well, the truth is, He has come into your house and spoken to you! He has come to you through the Word of God. As the scripture says: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15, KJV.

So when you pray, it’s time to start jumping up and down and shouting. “Praise God, I have my request! Praise God, it’s mine! Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!!! Amen.”

Shout the victory!