Peace

Good Morning,

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.

I don't know how things are going for you right now, you know...in this time we're living through...but I would venture a guess that you, like just about everyone today, has concerns that bother you. For many of us those concerns turn into worry and true anxiety in our lives. So, I thought that we should all revisit these verses of Scripture and allow them to speak to us. Through this process of meditating on God's words to us, I would pray for us all that we would, truly, find that peace which is spoken of in them.

Worry and anxiety, lest we forget, are useless emotions. We've spoken about it in this forum many times, I know. Perhaps we need to be reminded periodically about it, though, because too many of us fall back into that same old "worry" trap that bogs us down and causes so many different problems. Paul reminds us here that IN EVERYTHING we need to go to God in our prayers and let Him know what is in our hearts that we need right at that time. Paul also tells us how we are to go to God: With thanksgiving. You see, no matter where we find ourselves today, we all pretty much have to admit that we're probably better off than about 90 % of the people in other places on this planet.

"...in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Yes, of course God knows what we truly need in our lives. But, He also wants to hear from us. And, I truly believe that when we go to Him with thanksgiving in our hearts, it causes the anxiety and worry in our lives to lessen. It's one of the many benefits of prayer, you see.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we are obedient to what God is telling us to do in these verses, we have a benefit that comes from that obedience. That would be the "peace" that we read of here. Peace which we cannot even comprehend. Peace that perhaps we've not felt in a long time...or even ever. True peace. Peace in our hearts and minds. Peace even though the things around us are anything but peaceful. "...the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..." And, I can't put it any better no matter how hard I might try.

Peace we need in order to live our lives to the fullest and to do as we've been commanded: Presenting the Gospel to the lost.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David