By prayer and petition

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and by petition, with thanksgivings, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

The word petition here is translated from the Greek word deomai and can also be translated as supplication, or entreaty and portrays a genuine deeply felt need. Deomai is found in Strong's Concordance, no. 1162, and it explains that in Byzantine Greek it was used as a written supplication. The word peace in this verse is described in Strong's concordance as the Lord not merely wishing peace, but imparting every kind of peace (blessing), comprehensively, including peace with God or "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoerer sort that is."

This is a peace that says I should be wrought with anxiety, but I'm not. This peace that transcends all understanding is a divine impartation of grace in your life and your mind. It gives you rest in the storm and serves as assurance that the Lord has heard your prayers. It is not permission to stop praying, but should encourage and empower you to pray all the more fervently knowing the Lord has heard you. When this peace comes over you, you should be praying with an even higher level of faith that is pregnant with hope and expectation.

In Hebrews 5:7 it says:

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was hear because of his reverent submission.

The word petitions here is the same word deomai. JESUS offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears. King Jesus, who gave up his divinity to come to earth as a man and show the way, prayed fervently with prayer and petitions to the Father. HE is the way of life. He is our example in all things honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good report, and virtue. If it was necessary for Him, then how much more so is it necessary for us today!?!

When we petition the court's here in America we do so with a written request for the court's attention in a matter. We submit a petition requesting the court to hear our grievance and give us just relief. The petition calls attention to our problem and tells the judge what we are asking for. It includes a prayer at the end that summarizes the specific relief being requested as a result of the perceived wrong given in the petition. The judge reviews and weighs the evidence and testimony and then issues a ruling. If you don't know your rights, or what you are entitled to, how would you know if they are being violated?

Ben Shapiro makes the statement to Dr. Jordan Peterson that: "The verb 'to pray' in Hebrew is actually in the reflexive tense: 'lehitpallel.' It is supposed to be something that acts on you; it's not supposed to be something where you're attempting to pray and answer out of God."

In the old testament we see time and again where someone praying to the Lord reminds him of His word, promise, or character and they plead with the Lord to act on their behalf in a manner directly related to that area they believe is not in alignment with what was spoken over them/promised to them. They cling to the promise and create their reality around the word/promise they were given. They have written it down and know it inside and out. When the natural does not seem to reflect truth or the Word they petition the Lord to bring the two in to alignment. They lift up their prayers and petitions for change and they don't stop until the word comes to pass.

In Isaiah 43:26 the Lord tells us to remind Him:

"Put me in remembrance; let us plead together; set thou forth thy cause, that thou mayest be justified."

and Isaiah 62:6 (MSG)

"I've posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise"

Jacob wrestled with GOD to receive his blessing.

So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob's hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, "Let Me go, for day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me." So he asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

Genesis 32:24-28 (AMP)

From Jacob, now Israel, came the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.

Jesus reaffirms the need to contend for our blessing or rights and pray continually in Luke 18:1-8 (MSG):

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'

"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice - otherwise I'm going to end up black-and-blue by her pounding."

Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the son of man find on the earth when he returns?"

I don't believe the Lord needs the reminder. I believe it's a reflection of our heart for His will above all. When you are in a relationship you don't just allow yourself the opportunity to meet whenever it happens. If you did you would not be in a relationship for long... You have to persistently seek out the time and coordinate and confirm schedules and make the person and relationship a priority. You remind the person of your plans because you want to make sure you make the meeting. You want them to know they are a priority to you. I believe this serves two purposes. It forces us to put the Lord and His word first in our lives by demanding that what He says, His word, comes to pass and disallows what has been given to us from being taken. We have surrendered our rights before, we could do it again. By constantly reminding ourselves of what is ours and to whom we belong it is much harder to accidently give it away. Second, science has shown the more exposure to something a person has the more inclined they are to believe the information and be comfortable with what is being presented. If we are constantly meditating on our rights, the promises given to us, the Word, we are scientifically more inclined to claim and believe them. The Lord made us this way. Faith is believing in what is not yet seen. The more we remind ourselves of what we are expecting the more likely we are to see it come to pass.

Jesus gives us the keys for access to receiving an answer from the Father. He assures us He hears us and will work justice for those who cry out. When we pray in line with the Lord's desires, when we have a heart for the things His heart is for and consistently seek Him, His face, His presence, His will, we can walk in faith knowing that the Lord's ear is with us and His favor surrounds us.

For you, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You]; You surround him with favor as with a shield.

Psalms 5:12 (AMP)

I have a mustard seed necklace that I really love. Every time I put it on I ask myself what is my faith in and I answer myself: "The favor of the Lord surrounds me like a shield." I remind myself before I even step foot outside my door that the Lord is with me and operating through me. The Kingdom words I release on His behalf will come to pass. They have Holy Spirit power behind them and are not just platitudes.

The widow in the parable Jesus told knew what her rights were. This is key in all things, knowing what you have been promised. The word of the Lord is everlasting and continues through generations. The promises spoken over Israel still apply today. If you are adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven through salvation from Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are adopted into Israel. Know your rights as an heir. Seek the Lord for what He is speaking over you specifically in this season and in the ones to come. Claim your rights. Pray over them. Release the word you have received and contend for it. Remind the Lord that you have not forgotten and want everything He has promised you. Remind him that you choose Him. Be prepared to fight for it and rebuke anything that would stand between you and the word released over you.

Jesus has reclaimed the key of authority and given them back to us as co-heirs. You have the authority to contend with the Lord to act on your behalf and he listens and cares. He is moved by you.

"Then I will set on his shoulder the key of the house of David; when he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, and he will become a throne of honor and glory to his father's house. So they will hang on him all the honor and glory [the complete responsibility] of his father's house."

Isaiah 22:22-23 (AMP)

"...These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens:"

Revelation 3:7 (AMP)

"I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven."

Matthew 16:19 (AMP)

I pray you receive every blessing in the heavenly realm and this one. In the age to come and in the here and now. I pray that your words grow in power as you walk in your authority and release the Kingdom of God here on earth, not in judgement, but in love. I pray the Lord looks down on you and delights in you. I pray you walk in His favor and that you are blessed when you go out and blessed when you come in. I pray everything you set your hands to will prosper. I rebuke the enemy that would come to take anything that has been given to you. I pray that you are spared from every snare and it is turned on the enemy for your good. You are a child of the God Most High and I pray you come to know the threat you pose for the enemy as thoroughly as the enemy knows. I pray you not only operate in the spirit in a defensive position just trying to keep your head above water, but in an offensive position that destroys the enemy and advances the Kingdom.

In Jesus's name. Amen.