Pray About Everything

Text: Philippians 4:4-7

Prop: Poster of Study of Praying Hands by Albrecht Dürer, 1508.

Summary: God doesn’t want us to worry. He wants us to pray about everything.

How many of you ever worry? [show of hands] Some people worry all the time. We call them worry-warts. They worry about the weather. They worry about what to eat. They worry about how they dress. They worry, worry, worry about everything!

Do you think God wants us to worry? [listen for answers] Let’s see what the Bible says. (Read text] What a different story we have in the Bible! It says we should rejoice in the Lord about everything. Can you be happy all the time? [no] We need Jesus’ help to rejoice about everything! We can be happy because Jesus may return to earth to take us home to heaven at any moment!

The world says that when you have problems to worry and fret. The world says that misery loves company and you should get all your friends together and have a pity party — poor pitiful me! The Bible says to get your mind off yourself and pray about it. Nothing is too small to pray about. Some people think they should only bother God with great big important stuff. Do you know what? God isn’t bothered at all when we pray. He wants us to pray about everything!

God doesn’t want his children to worry. Have you ever looked at someone who was worried? They frown and wring their hands together like this. [demonstrate a worried-looking person and get the children to play along and do the same thing] God wants us to unclasp our fingers and point them away from ourselves and toward Him with folded, praying hands. [demonstrate praying hands and get them to follow along] When we bow our heads to pray, God will give us such a peace about it that our frown will turn into a smile. [bow head and smile] God will tell us what to do when we pray. We only need to listen to His still, small voice speaking to our hearts when we pray about everything.

©1999 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.