Everything.

Prayer.

Petition.

Everything.

These words are used often in church, but I haven't really grasped what they mean to me until coming here. I knew that there was that verse about asking God for everything, but I assumed that meant big things like where do I go to college or who do I marry or what do I do with my life. I didn't think it really meant everything.

It means everything.

Even those things I think God doesn't care about or turns a blind eye to are included in everything. Those things I try to hide or brush off as unimportant to a vast and unfathomable God.

It means who I date, where I go to college, what career I get into. It also means what I listen to, what I read, and what I laugh about.

Philippians 4:4-9:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."


Did you catch that like I did? Every situation. Before I came here, that just meant when I needed guidance about major life decisions. But after reading that verse one morning, it hit me.

I wasn't asking God for everything.

How arrogant must a creation be, to think that it has more wisdom than the One who created it! And that was me. Sure, I asked when I should have, maybe even more than some people would, but was I asking everything? Was I praying and petitioning the Lord for even those things I dared not tell another soul? Was I praying and petitioning about those things that everyone knew about me?

How could I assume that I could define everything differently than the God who created the meaning of the word?

I had totally missed the point in verse nine where it says to put into practice whatever you had learned or received. Whatever. Not what I want to put into practice, like some spiritual buffet. Whatever. Including His definition of everything.

So, I resolved to ask Him everything. I want to ask Him so much that there's no question or doubt in me that I am in His will. I want the smallest details of life to be presented to Him. I want that closeness that comes from sharing what's in my heart with Him. Everything.

I know most people use the first part of this verse where it says don't be anxious about anything, and the answer to anxiety is right there: present your requests to the Lord. I may not have anxiety all the time, but the verse doesn't say only pray and petition when you are anxious. It says in every situation. When I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I'm angry, when I'm hurt, when I don't know which way is up - every situation. Everything.

And you know what else? Everything that matters to me matters to Him. Why? Because I am His creation! He knit me together in my mother's womb. He knew what color my eyes were going to be before my parents even met. He knew that I would be a sarcastic, silly, movie-quoter who sometimes takes a long time to understand simple concepts because I am too proud and mule-headed to give in to His teachings. He knew before He created the earth that I am easily tripped up by pride and stubbornness. And even after creating the earth and all that is in it, everything that I pray and petition Him for still matters to Him. How wonderful is our Creator that He cares for me with such great devotion!

How then can I give less than my full measure of everything to Him? Every thought, every deed, every emotion, every want, every care, every need. Everything.

I have determined that I will redefine everything for myself. I will follow His definition of the word. Now, it means everything. All. Nothing left to myself. Nothing that I decide. He deserves everything from me.

And so, my friend, I now ask you a vital question.

Will you create your own version of everything or will you really mean everything?


Prayer requests:

- For the teams we have coming in. Some teams are Vision Teams looking to possibly adopt a people group and some are working here in Oaxaca. More specifically, that we have teams almost every week this month. And on that note...

- For us as April will be the busiest month that we are here. We've recently added another couple to our team, but we are still quite busy.

- For Jennifer as she starts working with J at school like I do. He doesn't always do well with change, and she will need a great deal of patience for working with him. I do as well!

- For good travel and safe times for Jennifer's family as they come in this week to visit her and see what she does here.

- For one of our team member's mother who is having some serious health issues, as well as one of their friends who just had a life-threatening skiing accident after which, he is not doing well at all.

Thank you again for your support and encouragement as you read through my adventures in Mexico!