The Peace of Christ
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
We live in difficult times. This isn’t a groundbreaking statement. All you need to do is turn on the news, and you’ll be inundated with stories of violence, corruption, war, racism, Addiction and so much more. You used to scroll your social media for cute cat videos or pictures of your family and friends, but now it further reinforces the negativity around us. All this tension in the world can lead you to a place of worry and anxiety. So, for some of us, a healthy first step might be to unplug and disconnect from some of the negative reinforcement.
But the best step is to pray. Again, this is not a groundbreaking statement. We, as Christ followers, should pray—a lot. We should tell God what we need and thank Him for all He has done. We do this because He is Jehovah Jireh—the God who provides. We do this because He is good and has blessed us richly. But we also do this because, according to the passage today, this is the key to experiencing God’s peace.
The peace that He provides is unlike anything the world offers. A quick internet search can provide you with a list of the top ways to achieve peace. Meditation, breathing exercises, a walk in the woods, visualization techniques, etc. None of those provide what God does—transcendent, supernatural peace.
The troubles of our world (or our personal lives, for that matter) never catch God off guard. Jesus said this in John 16:33:
“… Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
He still rules and reigns. He is sovereign. And in the end, we know He will set all things right. He’s returning for His people so that we may be with Him always. Take comfort and peace from this good news.
Application
Ask God to help you maintain an eternal perspective. The troubles and trials of our time are temporary. That doesn’t mean they’re not real or difficult, but they won’t last forever. As you patiently wait for God to set everything right, pray and ask Him to help you. Seek His peace. Take a few moments to tell God exactly what you’re anxious about.
Prayer
Almighty God,
You’re still on Your throne despite all the brokenness I see around me. Grant me Your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. But in the meantime, help me trust in You. Thank You for who You are, what You’ve done, and what You will do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?