“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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7
As I sat in my swing early one morning, I noticed the serene activity around me. The robins and finches were singing, the glowing sun was rising, the morning dew was evaporating, a family of deer grazed across our lawn, our crimson red roses seemed to be opening with the sunrise, and a soft cool breeze came across our property, just enough to make the tops of our oaks gently sway. And it was in that moment that this verse came to my mind.
“Be anxious for nothing….”
I sat there and literally saw the plans of God unfold before my eyes. His plans for His creations seemed to unfold with such peace. It was a peace that I knew in my busy life was missing. The peace of abiding in His faithfulness. So, I prayed, “Father, how I long to have such restorative peace, Your peace, fill and overflow my life.” The prayer wasn’t out of my mouth before He caused the rest of the verse to come to mind:
“…but in everything, {every area and concern of your life} by prayer and supplication, with a truly thankful heart, let your requests be made known to Me, {your God}, and the peace {My nature}, which surpasses all understanding, will guard {protect} your heart and your mind through Christ Jesus.”
What are God’s plans for my life? For your life? Where do they start? It starts in bringing everything to Him in prayer. Living in an attitude of prayer. All of our relationship with our Father starts with prayer. He also says, “with a truly thankful heart, let your requests be made known to Me.” If you’re like me, you may tend to make your requests known to anyone who will listen. But the Lord says make them known “to Me.” He wants us to bring it all to Him, absolutely everything that is on our mind and in our heart. “Requests” is in the plural because He knows we tend to have so much on our hearts. He knows we tend to carry quite a load in our minds.
But He tells us to bring Him our requests IN a spirit of thankfulness. How do we do this? It’s in believing that the moment we bring anything to Him, the moment we ask anything of Him … He’s got it. So many times in my life when I feel my hands starting to wring in worry I will hear that soft reassuring whisper: “I’ve got this.” That’s why He says make them known “to Me.” He wants us to ask of Him. He says, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full,” John 16:24.
However, a joyful heart isn’t the only eternal blessing that comes as we refuse to worry or be anxious. As we pray to Him about everything, we also experience the eternal blessing of peace. A peace that, according to Philippians 4:6-7, will surpass our minds ability to comprehend it. We won’t be able to muster up a worry when His peace is guarding our thoughts. And that is a most beautiful way to live…in full joy and peace!
Father, Your nature is peace. Help me today to walk in Your peace. I desire to bring everything to You in prayer, with a truly thankful heart. Thank You, Father, for Your promise that as I refuse to worry, and instead pray, You will fill my life with Your peace; a peace that provides my heart and mind with divine protection. I praise You, Lord Jesus, for being my Prince of Peace. Help me to walk today in the word and the promise of Philippians 4:6-7. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
