Something to think about: “Supplication”

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

“Supplication”…what does it mean? I got the same definition everywhere I looked, “asking or begging for something earnestly”; “to plead humbly”; “to beg” but somehow I felt there was more to it than that, like when you just know that something is missing. Over the years I’ve learnt that we need not beg God for anything, the asking I could relate to since Jesus Himself told us, “Ask, and it will be given to you…For everyone who asks receives” (Matthew 7:7,8 ESV). It was definitely something to think about, and think about it I did. I was not about to let this one rest, I knew there was more to it than what these dictionaries were offering me.

“Supplication”…what does it really mean? Throwing out the “begging” and the “pleading” we’re left with “asking for something earnestly, humbly”. Earnestly speaks of being sincere and serious about your intention and purpose, while humbly is about making yourself “low”, not simply by physically bowing down but it’s more about your attitude, your behavior, your approach, and your spirit. Let’s search the Word for a better understanding…

Philippians 2:5,6,7 (ESV)

“Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God…emptied himself…”

1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)

“the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things in subjection under Him, that God may be all in all.”

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.

Jesus “emptied Himself”, was “subjected” to God so that “God may be all in all”, and “He fell on His face” before God giving up His will to the will of the Father. And this is what I believe is the true meaning of supplication – to be in complete submission to God where, like Jesus, you can sincerely say to God “Your will be done”.

“Supplication” is about submitting to God’s plan for your life, His purpose, His guidance, and to be in obedience to God’s way. It’s when you subject yourself to God’s leading and direction. It’s surrendering your will to the will of God – His will supercedes. It’s decreasing and allowing God to increase. It’s being under God’s authority and control. 

“Supplication” requires humility because without it there can be no submitting, no obeying, no subjecting, no surrendering, no decreasing, and no coming under anyone’s authority and control, not even God’s. 

When you go to God in prayer with thanksgiving to make your requests known, keep in mind that God knows what’s best for you and as you bow yourself down before Him in supplication you are in fact positioning yourself to receive. Now that’s something to think about.

Something to think about: “Supplication”   Shelley Johnson 2-Sep-2016