Do We Carry Everything To God In Prayer?

I am sure you are familiar with the old hymn, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus." If not, here is the first verse:

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Notice we see in this song that is it a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Later on, the song writer states we forfeit peace and bear needless pain because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Does the Bible support taking every need, want and desire to God in prayer? Yes, it does:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7)

These two passages of Scripture tells us to cast everything to the Lord. In 1 Peter, we anxieties, which is written to a group of churches spread out through Asia Minor. In Philippians, written by the Apostle Paul was under house arrest, wrote that everything should be given to God in prayer and His peace will guard us in Christ.

Many people think what matters to us may not matter to God. I have seen in my life God answering prayer from the simplest of things to the major moments in my life. So whether it is getting over a stomach bug to getting a new job or asking God for extra sleep after a long week, we can come to God with anything. It does not mean He will answer right away. Remember, God is not our time table.

The question being asked today is do we carry everything to God in prayer. If your answer is no, start today. If your answer is yes, then pray for those who don't. If your answer is sort of, then start telling God everything you are not telling Him. He already knows.

If God already knows everything, why pray? First, we are told to pray to Him. The verses above were not suggestions, they were commands. Second, God is sovereign, therefore to pray to Him to acknowledge His sovereignty. He is God, we are not.