Prayer Maintains Faith’s Focus

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

The Apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians to be careful for nothing.  In other words he is saying, be anxious for nothing, go to God in prayer and present your petitions before Him in an attitude of thanksgiving. The word careful is a word that implies distractions. 

Paul is saying we should not allow the concerns of this world as real as they are, to distract us; as the distractions are sent to steal our focus.  When our focus is removed from our confidence in God onto our issues, fear will begin to invade our thoughts, then our perspective and soon our words and actions will be impacted and our faith becomes eroded.

Our cares and concerns can become distractions. Distractions have a goal and that goal is to rob you of your faith and confidence in God.  Prayer is the key to maintaining your focus and thereby guarding your faith from failing.  Paul said, what we think about after we pray also impacts our focus and so he encourage us to pray and then maintain a focus that will feed our faith and not drain our faith. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

In I Peter 5:7, it says  ^“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  This same word “care” is the same word for “careful” in Philippians.  Peter is saying, “Cast all your distractions upon the Lord, because God cares for us.”

Both Peter and Paul understood that life will have its issues, but we must not allow our issues to become the tool the enemy uses against our faith. Peter encourages us to cast our “cares” confidently upon the Lord because He cares for us. Then Peter goes on to warn us that our enemy is looking to devour us, and the cares of life are just one of the tools he uses to steal our focus that the enemy uses.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9

As you forge ahead today, maintain your faith in God as He cares for you.  Resist the temptation and stand steadfast in your faith.  Keep your focus pn God as what you are facing is not beyond His ability to take care of.