Prayer is the path to inner peace.
Who hasn't been troubled, anxious or depressed at some point in life? I certainly worry and sometimes feel down.
The apostle Paul has a recipe for us on how to regain inner peace. He describes it in these wonderful words in Philippians 4:4-7:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
"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."
In my view, this passage speaks of a close, ongoing conversation with God - prayer. I see several steps to inner peace in these words:
Paul is saying that a supernatural peace will fill us as we give our concerns to God in prayer. Rejoicing in God and giving thanks revives our spirits and gives us a different outlook on our circumstances.
The apostle Peter gave similar advice in 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus), because he cares for you."
There is no need for me to spend hours agonizing over problems or wandering around in a dark cloud.
I must simply give my problems to Jesus and say: "I don't know what to do. Show me what to do or do what you know is best. I trust you and love you."
I must stop trying to do everything myself, stop trying to control events I cannot control.
I must trust that Jesus will work out things for good in the long run (Romans 8:28).
Who hasn't been troubled, anxious or depressed at some point in life? I certainly worry and sometimes feel down.
The apostle Paul has a recipe for us on how to regain inner peace. He describes it in these wonderful words in Philippians 4:4-7:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
"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."
In my view, this passage speaks of a close, ongoing conversation with God - prayer. I see several steps to inner peace in these words:
- Begin by focusing your thoughts on God, rejoicing in him and what he has done and is doing for you ("rejoice in the Lord always");
- Then, lean on the Lord and the fact he is with you at this very moment ("The Lord is near");
- While trusting in God, let your worries drain away because he is here and nothing in the world matters but God ("do not be anxious about anything");
- Constantly bring everything to God in prayer - even the seemingly small things ("but in everything, by prayer and petition"); and
- Thank God for everything and for what he is going to do in response to your prayers ("with thanksgiving").
Paul is saying that a supernatural peace will fill us as we give our concerns to God in prayer. Rejoicing in God and giving thanks revives our spirits and gives us a different outlook on our circumstances.
The apostle Peter gave similar advice in 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus), because he cares for you."
There is no need for me to spend hours agonizing over problems or wandering around in a dark cloud.
I must simply give my problems to Jesus and say: "I don't know what to do. Show me what to do or do what you know is best. I trust you and love you."
I must stop trying to do everything myself, stop trying to control events I cannot control.
I must trust that Jesus will work out things for good in the long run (Romans 8:28).
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