DUO Inspirations
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact Me
  • Faith
    • Faith Blog
    • The Purposeful Bible Study For Those Who Want to Lose Weight
  • Education
    • Education Blog
    • Tutoring and Education Coaching Services
    • Educational Resources >
      • Prek/Kindergarten Resources
      • Elementary Grades Resources
      • Math Resources
      • Language Arts Resources
      • Writing Resources
      • Art Resources
      • Organizational Resources

We are Called to Be Careful for Nothing?

5/31/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
“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)
 






Hi Friends,
 
     I don’t know about you, but I grew up hearing, “Be careful.”  I was supposed to “be careful” about many things that could hurt me in some way.  Sometimes, it felt like I couldn’t or shouldn’t do anything, because I was always supposed to “be careful”.  Have you been told to “be careful” before?  Have you told anyone to “be careful” before?

     Now, we see that Paul is telling us to “be careful for nothing”.  Hmmm.  That is different.  So, why is it so different?  Why do some of us grow up hearing “be careful” and now see that Paul said not to “be careful’?

     Well, parents want to protect their children from danger.  They mean well, when they say, “be careful”, but often that isn’t the most healthy and productive statement.  Many times, children are more capable than we think and are in less danger than we fear.  Sometimes it is better to say, “slow down, so you don’t slip on the wet floor” or “when you climb, make sure you hang onto something, so you don’t fall.”  You aren’t teaching the child to “fear” something or not to try something that could be out of their comfort zone, you are just making him or her aware of the danger and giving guidance in awareness and ways that could make it less dangerous.  (I came across a nice blog post here, by Let Grow, if you would like to further research this train of thought.)

     This concept of being careful is also misguided with our prayers.  Often times we under estimate God’s power or willingness to give us good things.  We think, “Nothing good ever happens to me, I can’t ask for something so nice.  I will never get it.”  God wants to give us good things.  He can and will care for us much better than any human parent could or would. 

     Yet, it isn’t just what we ask for in prayer, it is also how we ask.  Sometimes we tend to ask sort of timidly, not sure of the results, or demand like a laundry list of things that we want accomplished as if we were entitled.  None of the above are very respectful, reverent, or loving of God.  We are to ask without being afraid of whether or not God can do it, because he most definitely can.  We are to ask with a humble and thankful heart.  We are to thank God for His love and blessings even before we see it and trust that it is on its way.  We are to ask for things that are in alignment with God’s will for us. 

     In the example of parenting and in the example of prayer, the words “be careful” are more destructive than uplifting and supportive.  They can bring fear, confusion, distrust, and other negative effects.  Yet, we are called to reach outside of our comfort zone and rely on God.  We may have to “be careful” in specific ways such as “not get too close to the fire” or “go slow on the wet floor, so we don’t slip”.  We don’t have the power to still the winds, calm the storm, and move mountains.  But with God, all things are possible.  God doesn’t have to be careful.  And, when we go to God, we don’t have to be careful, if we go with a right heart in alignment with His will.
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for this day.  Thank you for your infinite wisdom, love, and care.  You are an awesome God capable of many and all things.  Help us to “be careful for nothing” as we pray.  Help us to pray with all humbleness, supplication, and thanksgiving.  Help us to pray for things in alignment with you will for us and with a right heart.  I ask you this through your Son, Jesus.  Amen. 

 
  *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *
 
Reflective questions for Philippians 4:6 (KJV):
*What does Philippians 4:6 mean to me?
*When I pray, am I afraid to pray for awesome things?
*Do I under estimate God’s capability and willingness to give me wonderful
 things, when I pray?
*Do I pray with thanksgiving and a humble heart?
*Do I say, “be careful” to others?

 

Now, it is your turn. 
     What are your thoughts?  Leave a comment below.  Also, if you would like to receive the Faith Blog posts in your inbox or you would like to get the FREE offer, sign up below. 

0 Comments
    2 Timothy 1:7 image by DUO Inspirations

    Hi friends!

    This is Jodi.  I am so glad you are here!  I am a Christian and life-long learner.  I enjoy sharing and encouraging others.  I pray you are blessed by this blog.  Thank you for being here.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021

    Categories

    All
    1 Thessalonians 5:11
    2 Chronicles 7:14
    2 Corinthians 13:5
    2 Corinthians 6:14
    2 Peter 3:9
    Acceptable Thoughts
    Armor Of God
    Beatitudes
    Be Careful For Nothing
    Believers And Unbelievers
    Bible
    Bible Study
    Blessed
    Celebrate
    Charity
    Children Of God
    Christian
    Christians
    Christmas
    Christmas Tree
    Comfort
    Covid-19
    Creativity
    Daily
    Depressed
    Depression
    Deuteronomy 8:18
    Devotion
    Don't Give Up
    Drink His Blood
    DUO Inspirations
    Eat His Flesh
    Education
    Encouragement
    Encouraging Others
    Ephesians 6:11
    Faith
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Flood
    Forgiveness
    Galatians 6:7
    Galatians 6:9
    Genesis 6
    Genesis 7
    Genesis 8
    Genesis 9
    God's Kingdom
    God's Timing
    God's Word
    Good Works
    Guidance
    Heavenly Father
    Hebrews 10:24
    Hope
    Inspiration
    James 1:2-4
    James 1:26
    James 1:27
    John 15:5
    John 6:54
    John 7:24
    Joy
    Judging Others
    Knowledge
    Lazy
    Love
    Mark 12:30
    Matthew 16:22
    Matthew 5:10
    Matthew 5:3
    Matthew 5:4
    Matthew 5:5
    Matthew 5:6
    Matthew 6:10
    Matthew 6:11
    Matthew 6:12
    Matthew 6:13
    Matthew 6:9
    Meek
    Merciful
    Mercy
    Noah
    Noah's Ark
    One Day At A Time
    Pandemic
    Patience
    Peacemakers
    Persecuted Christians
    Persecution
    Perseverance
    Peter Rebukes Jesus
    Philippians 4:6
    Plan
    Power Of Words
    Praise
    Praise God
    Prayer
    Prejudice
    Preparedness
    Proverbs 13:13
    Proverbs 16:24
    Proverbs 17:22
    Proverbs 18:15
    Proverbs 22:13
    Proverbs 24:27
    Proverbs 6:6-8
    Prudence
    Psalms
    Psalms 100
    Psalms 119:127
    Psalms 16:11
    Reap What You Sow
    Religion
    Repent
    Repentance
    Righteousness
    Search For Truth
    Self Examination
    Self-examination
    Sermon On The Mount
    Servant Of God
    Serving The Lord
    Shepherd
    Slothful
    Sorrow
    Talk
    Temptation
    Thankful
    The Lord's Prayer
    Those Who Mourn
    Thoughts
    Truth
    Uneqaully Yoked
    Vanity
    Wealth
    We Need Jesus
    Wisdom
    Work Ethic

    RSS Feed

P.O. Box 104
New Haven, VT 05472
Home
Contact me
Thank you for the opportunity to inspire and be inspired!
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact Me
  • Faith
    • Faith Blog
    • The Purposeful Bible Study For Those Who Want to Lose Weight
  • Education
    • Education Blog
    • Tutoring and Education Coaching Services
    • Educational Resources >
      • Prek/Kindergarten Resources
      • Elementary Grades Resources
      • Math Resources
      • Language Arts Resources
      • Writing Resources
      • Art Resources
      • Organizational Resources