Philippians 4:6-7
I am often amazed at how practical, helpful, and wise Scripture can be.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
I committed this passage to memory as a young soldier serving miles from home. I am glad I did. I was feeling anxious and worried as I sought to make sense of life and make wise decisions. Indeed, this is a passage of Scripture that presents a promise. It tells us not to be anxious or worried or fret about anything. Instead, we are to go to God in every situation and circumstance. And pray. But not just any prayer; we are to pray specifically about our needs, lay everything out to God, and do so with thanksgiving. When we do this, the result is beautiful; we experience the profound peace of God that is above anything we can understand. It is a peace that guards (like a sentinel) our hearts and minds in Christ!
As a young Christian, I would list everything that was bothering me. One by one, I would go through and lay my requests before God and let God be God (imagine that!). There is something powerful about writing down the things that worry or trouble you; you take the stuff off of your heart and mind and put them out on paper where they are much more manageable and less foreboding. And when I’d pray about each item (it is best to do this out loud), I find a deep peace that comes over me.
I am not going to say this is automatic, but it is generally true; there’s a great deal of peace when I take the time to hunker down with God and share all of the stuff that is bothering me–and let go of myself and trust God to take care of my worries, cares, concerns, and conundrums. Isaiah 26:3 backs this up: (Pardon the KJV) “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” And also, 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” A hymn stanza from What a Friend We Have in Jesus comes to mind:
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Is there anything bothering you? Now might be a good time to remember: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Questions for Reflection:
- What works when you process moments or situations that cause you anxiety?
- When was the last time you experienced a deep, profound peace in Christ?
Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for granting us practical pointers for finding peace in our troubled times and anxious moments. By your Spirit’s power, remind us to turn to you whenever fear, anxiety, worry, and dread seek to disturb or disrupt the miraculous connection we have in you through faith. In your name, Jesus, we pray!
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