Peace in Troubled Times

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

During this time, with everything we hear on a consistent basis, our hearts and minds are under attack.  Fear can seep into us with every new cough, every weird feeling in your throat, every time we hear of another sick person.  I spoke to a friend yesterday, and he said that he feels like he is simply waiting for the symptoms to show up.  I can relate to that feeling, considering that my wife has shown symptoms over the past two weeks.  I look at my children, and I listen to every cough or sneeze.  Every time they feel warm, I reach for the thermometer.  Over time, this fear can build and grow, and anxiety can find fertile ground within us.

However, the Word of God gives us an antidote for this anxiety and fear.  We have a promise from God in Philippians 4:7 that God's incomprehensible peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.  I want some of that, and I want you to have some of that peace as well!

But looking at the verse, we must understand that this is a conditional promise.  The peace is guaranteed only if we perform certain actions.  The Holy Spirit is ready to administer, encourage, strengthen, and guard, but He waits for our invitation.

How do we access this peace?  What are the conditions of its coming?

Philippians 4:6 tells to pray.  Instead of being anxious, we must pray.  Let's break this down.

Think about who we are praying to!

When we pray, we are choosing to turn our hearts from ourselves and the troubles of the world to God.  When we pray, we are looking to Him for something.  We are assenting to His Will, and His power, instead of our own.  When we pray, we look to a God who can help.  And He can help!

What can we pray about?

Philippians tells us to pray in everything.  That means that nothing is too small, and nothing is too big, to bring to God.  Whether you are praying for a loved one's (or your own) survival, praying for the next financial need to be met, praying for a calm spirit, or even simply praying for safety on a grocery run, it matters to God.  He wants you to pray to Him for everything and anything.

How do we pray?

First of all, we let our requests be made known to God.  This involves supplication.  After all, the very term "pray" means to ask.  And many times, we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2). We can have confidence to ask God for things, because we have been granted access into His presence through the Spirit (Eph. 2:18), we pray in the name of Jesus (John 16:23-24), and the Father Himself loves us and wants to help us (John 16:26-27).  We can have confidence because of His grace towards us, grace that helps us and gives us mercy (Heb. 4:16). Also, when we ask God for good things, according to His will, we have confidence that He hears us and will answer (1 John 5:14-15).

Secondly, while we let our requests be made known to God, we also involve thanksgiving.  Being thankful for what God has already done not only helps us have greater faith in the One we are petitioning, but it also comforts us to remember how He has already aided us.  It helps us realign our thinking in a positive way, instead of being overcome by the negative.

The results.

When we come to God, we are acting in faith.  When we pray, we are leaving our petitions at His throne, for Him to deal with (instead of our own weak selves).  When we thank Him, we are comforted and strengthened.  And when we put these things together, the Spirit brings peace.  Peace that guards us.  When the anxieties creep in, we know that we have spoken to the Lord Almighty.  When our faith wavers, we are reminded of God's past faithfulness.  When we feel fear, we know that we have access to the very presence of God.  And when we do these things, we know that we are promised His peace.  And even if we fear that we are praying wrong, we are comforted by the thought that the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:26-27).

So today, choose to pray instead of being anxious.  And in faith, reach out for God's peace over fear.

1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

David

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