Daily Devotional

-May 5, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Be Anxious For Nothing, Pray About Everything-

“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).

Paul’s words to the Philippians are so encouraging to us. Just as in his day, there are so many things to be anxious about. The present has so many challenges with so few solutions; the future is so uncertain. The key to joy is our relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. When we pray, God hears and answers our prayers, and He gives us the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, nor about your body, what you will put on, is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” He uses the example of birds and flowers to show us how God takes care of them and we are of much value are we more than them. So often we worry about things that never happen. God takes care of us. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Instead of being anxious, worried, troubled, or stressed out, we should pray about everything, and thank Him for all that He has given to us. As we pray and thank Him, we will not be anxious because we have brought our needs, problems, and concerns to the One who loves us.

God hears us and gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding. There are two types of peace in the NT, peace with God which comes through our faith in Christ. It is once for all, and does not change. Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The second type of peace is one in our text that comes in the midst our circumstances to comfort and encourage us. It is available to us as we pray and leave matters in His hands. For the Christian, peace is the greatest renewable resource we have available to us. Prayer + Thanksgiving = Peace. It is my favorite mathematical equation. It is like a scale with prayer and thanksgiving, our part, on one side, and peace, God’s part, on the other side; they balance so beautifully. We cannot have one without the other.

May we be prayerful, not anxious, peaceful, not troubled. This will lead to calm, peace, and rest even in the midst of the storms of life.

Have a blessed day resting in Jesus, calling on Him, and experiencing His peace. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean