Bringing Everything to God

Session Purpose

In this session, we will learn a simple, balanced rhythm of prayer using PTCIP: Praise, Thanksgiving, Confession, Intercession, and Petition. We will memorize Philippians 4:6–7 and practice turning Scripture, concerns, and relationships into prayer.

Opening Prayer

Father, teach us to bring every part of our lives before you. Meet us in our fears, free us from self-reliance, fill our prayers with thanksgiving, and guard our hearts and minds with your peace in Christ. Amen.

Memory Passage

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6–7 NET2

Memorize the passage in phrases:

• Do not be anxious about anything.
• Instead, in every situation,
• through prayer and petition
• with thanksgiving,
• tell your requests to God.
• And the peace of God
• that surpasses all understanding
• will guard your hearts and minds
• in Christ Jesus.

Understanding the Passage

Read Philippians 4:4–9.

1. What commands does Paul give in verses 4–6?
2. What truth in verse 5 reassures believers as they face anxiety?
3. Does Paul tell believers to ignore their concerns? What are they to do with them?
4. Why is thanksgiving important when we bring difficult circumstances to God?
5. What does God promise in verse 7? Does he promise to remove every difficult circumstance immediately?
6. Why is the phrase “in Christ Jesus” essential to understanding the source and security of God’s peace?

Interpretive Summary

Paul wrote Philippians while imprisoned and while the church faced opposition and internal pressures. He did not call believers to pretend their difficulties were unimportant. Because the Lord is near, they can bring every situation and request to God with thanksgiving.

God does not promise to grant every request exactly as we desire or to remove every hardship immediately. He promises his guarding peace in Christ as we bring our concerns to him. Continuing distress does not by itself prove that someone lacks faith or has prayed wrongly. We can return to God honestly, receive patient support from others, and seek appropriate professional help when needed.

A Balanced Rhythm of Prayer

PTCIP provides a simple pattern for responding to God. It is not a rigid formula or a method for persuading God to act. It helps us pray in a way that is shaped by Scripture and includes more than our immediate needs.

Praise

Praise focuses upon who God is—his holiness, love, wisdom, sovereignty, faithfulness, mercy, and power.

Ask: What does this passage reveal about God that I can praise?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving remembers what God has done and receives his gifts with gratitude. We thank him for Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, daily provision, answered prayer, fellowship, and strength during difficulty.

Ask: What work, promise, or gift of God should I remember with gratitude?

Confession

Confession means agreeing with God about our sin and returning to him in repentance and faith. We confess sinful actions, false beliefs, misplaced desires, wrong attitudes, and failures to love.

Ask: What sin, unbelief, or wrong response does this passage expose in me?

Intercession

Intercession is prayer for other people and for God’s purposes in the world. We pray for family, friends, the church, Christian leaders, those who suffer, people who do not know Christ, missionaries, and governing authorities.

Ask: Who needs God’s grace in relation to the truth I have read?

Petition

Petition means bringing our own needs and requests to our Father. We ask confidently for provision, wisdom, protection, endurance, holiness, and strength to obey while submitting our desires to God’s wisdom and will.

Ask: What help do I need from God today?

Practice Prayer

Read Philippians 4:4–9.

Use PTCIP to pray through the passage:

• Praise: Praise God because the Lord is near and worthy of your trust.
• Thanksgiving: Thank God for one specific evidence of his faithfulness.
• Confession: Confess any unbelief or controlling response God exposes, without treating every experience of anxiety as a personal sin.
• Intercession: Pray for someone presently facing fear or uncertainty.
• Petition: Bring one particular concern to God and ask for his help and peace.

Conclude by answering:

1. What concern do I need to entrust to God?

2. What truth about God should shape the way I pray about it?

3. What responsible action should accompany my prayer?

A Simple Prayer List

Keep a manageable prayer list in your Bible or notebook. Include:

• Family and close relationships
• Church and Christian leaders
• People who do not know Christ
• Missionaries and gospel ministry
• People who are suffering
• Personal needs and spiritual growth
• Answers to prayer and thanksgiving

Some concerns may be prayed for daily and others throughout the week. Keep the list short enough to support prayer rather than discourage it.

Fourteen Daily Quiet Time Passages on Prayer

These optional passages support ongoing Daily Quiet Times. Choose a manageable passage for each time with God; you do not need to finish this list before the next meeting. Continue the 5Rs, letting the passage guide your prayer and one MAP response.

1. Week 1

   • Genesis 18:22–33 — Abraham intercedes before God

   • Exodus 33:12–23 — Moses asks to know God and see his glory

   • 1 Samuel 1:9–18 — Hannah pours out her heart to God

   • Nehemiah 1:4–11 — Praise, confession, and petition

   • Psalm 27:1–8 — Seeking God’s presence

   • Psalm 63:1–8 — Thirsting for God

   • Matthew 6:5–13 — Jesus teaches his disciples to pray

2. Week 2

   • Luke 11:5–13 — Persistent and confident prayer

   • Luke 18:1–8 — Praying without losing heart

   • John 15:1–8 — Abiding, asking, and bearing fruit

   • Romans 8:26–27 — The Spirit helps us in our weakness

   • Ephesians 3:14–21 — Prayer for inner strength and maturity

   • Philippians 4:4–9 — Prayer, thanksgiving, and peace

   • Colossians 4:2–6 — Devoted prayer and gospel opportunity

Training Another Christian

Help another Christian grow in prayer:

1. Explain PTCIP briefly.

2. Read a short biblical passage together.

3. Identify what the passage gives you to pray.

4. Pray briefly together using PTCIP.

5. Help the person establish one realistic prayer rhythm.

6. Follow up with encouragement.

Preparing for Session 9

Before the next meeting:

1. Learn Philippians 4:6–7 at a manageable pace, including the reference. Review a small selection of earlier passages, rotating them through the week.

2. Use PTCIP as a flexible guide in your Daily Quiet Times. Keep a short prayer list and bring one concern honestly to God.

3. Pray with a fellow participant or another Christian, using a passage to guide you.

4. Bring one insight or question and one experience of applying the passage. Share only what you choose.