Experiencing God’s Peace
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
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This pattern given in Philippians 4, of taking our worries to God and centering our thoughts on him and all he has done is an important secret of prayer. We all have different “panic buttons,” or experiences that cause our hearts and minds to race, our confidence and strength to waver. Your panic button may relate to your children’s safety, your finances, your health, or an uncertain employment future. Whatever they are, these needs and burdens are actually meant to draw us to God in prayer. If we open our hearts and invite Jesus into our need and put our focus on him, he will quiet our anxious thoughts and bring us a sense of calm. His peace, which is far more wonderful than our human minds can comprehend, then brings comfort and order to our hearts. In the midst of this anxiety-ridden, fear- filled world we live in, the Lord wants to reveal himself as the God who calms our fears and turns our worries into wonder at what a great God he is.
Prayers:
HOLY SPIRIT, here is my worry. Here is my need. I give them to you, and ask you to calm my anxious heart and quiet my racing thoughts. Center them on Jesus Christ and on his power and sufficiency today. Because I belong to you, I know that your peace will guard my heart and mind.
Quotes:
THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH WE CAN GATHER AND KEEP COLLECTED OUR DISTRACTED MINDS AND OUR ROAMING THOUGHTS IS TO CENTER THEM ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. . . . LET CHRIST LAY HOLD OF, ATTRACT, CAPTIVATE AND GATHER ABOUT HIMSELF ALL OUR INTERESTS. THEN OUR SESSIONS OF PRAYER WILL BECOME REAL MEETINGS WITH GOD . . . AND THE PEACE OF GOD WILL DESCEND WITH HEALING AND BLESSING UPON MY DISTRACTED SOUL.
Ole Hallesby (1879–1961)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Jeremiah 1:1–2:30; Philippians 4:1-23; Psalm 75:1-10 and Proverbs 24:17-20.
