“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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.”
“Saved alone.”
These two words pierced Horatio Spafford’s soul as he sat on his desk in Chicago Chicago Atlantic and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. Shortly afterwards, Horatio travelled to meet his grieving wife. History has it that, when his ship was sailing above the very spot where his daughters’ ship had sunk, Horatio went back to his cabin and wrote the words to one of the most moving Hymns ever written: “It is well with my soul.” Had this been the only tragedy in Horatio’s life, I may have looked a bit further for inspiration for this message. But his long-lasting grief was beyond imagination to me: he lost his only son in 1871; lost much of his business in the Great Fire in the same year; lost his four daughters in one day. He lived to have three more children, one of whom (a son) died in infancy. If there was a soul in modern history who knew the peace that surpasses all understanding of Philippians 4, that person is Horatio Spafford. He found, as Paul did, the peace that does not rely on possessions, people or circumstances.
In the first part of this devotional, we saw that there are very good reasons for which God’s children should never stress over their problems. Most of the times we cannot control them, anyway. In the second part of verse 4, Paul gives us the recipe to find the peace that surpasses all understanding. He said “but”, in other words, “instead of” worrying and being anxious, “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let you requests be made known to God.” What sounds like a simplistic way of approaching our problems and dilemmas in life, is a tested and proven solution to bring rest to a troubled spirit. There is no magic in prayer. There is Power - divine, endless power.
Curare et Orare
Bengel, a Lutheran priest who lived in the 17th Century made the following analogy regarding anxiety and prayer: “Anxiety and Prayer (Curare et Orare) are more opposed to each other than fire and water.”
The paradox between the two concepts lies in the fact that prayer, when rendered with faith and trust, should be the very instrument to drive away all notions of care and stress from our minds. If we think of it as the “connection” with God, whose love, power and mercy are infinite and who promises to cause all things to work for our good, we would certainly carry out lives with less stress and more prayer. The idea in verse 6 is that we should, in everything; in each emergency, little or great, as it arises, pray. The two words herein rendered “prayer” and “supplication”, occur together again in Ephesians 6:18 and 1 Timothy 2:1:
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints”
“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,”
The first word “prayer” refers to the general conversation of our souls with God; “supplications” consist of the more specific requests for ourselves and others. Intercessory prayer is one of the Christian’s duty; we must pray in order to have a relationship with the Father; we cannot separate the two. Show me a person who does not pray and I will show you someone who cannot claim God’s peace and direction for his/her life. Although God speaks to His people in different ways, I do believe it is when we pray that we hear Him more intimately. It is distracting to me to think that a child of God would seek His face in prayer only in times of desperate need. How can we run to the Father in emergencies, if we don’t spend time to know Him through prayer? How can we boldly ask Him for our needs and desires, if we do not come back to thank Him every day for His blessings?
Peace In the Lion’s Den
The first time I saw the above picture of Daniel in the Lion’s den was at our pastor’s office. I remember the emotions that ran through my spirit as I watched the faces of the lions… reverent, scared, controlled wild animals, in total submission to the Power who created them. And then I looked at Daniel, his face looking upwards, arms crossed behind his back in peaceful realization that Yahweh (the Hebrew name of God meaning “the One who Brings Into Existence Whatever Exists)”, the very One who had called him to live, knew when he was or was not to die. I fell in love with the piece so much that we now have a framed copy in our home.
Daniel had formed a habit of prayer. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that even when King Darius signed the document that prohibited all men to pray to “any god besides him,” the first thing Daniel did was to go to his house, kneel down and pray, as he had done every day. As the verdict from the king came and Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s Den, he knew that, because he was obedient, he could trust Yahweh to protect him. The peace that he found as he brought his petitions to God in prayer followed him to the Lion’s Den. The same peace will follow you as you face your lions and giants in life’s valleys and battles.
What is God’s Peace?
It is the Peace that He Himself possesses. It is the peace that Jesus promised His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27 – NASB)
Because it is divine peace, it transcends our circumstances. It’s not simply freedom from troubles, but a deeply-set harmony with the One who is the Source of true peace. That is why Paul calls this the “peace that surpasses all (human) understanding.”It is the peace that only those who are reconciled with God can possess, because “He Himself is our Peace” (Ephesians 2:14)
It is child-like peace - because it flows from a solid trust that the Father will take care of His children. It is the peace that comes from the same blessed assurance which a little child has, that daddy will be there for them when they need him; or that daddy can do just about anything: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 – NASB.
It is an armed Guard - It is very interesting that Paul uses the term “guard” when it comes to the peace of God in our hearts. To guard is a warrior’s duty and war and peace are also as opposites as fire and water. However, God herein promises that as we bring all our cares to Him by prayer and supplication, thanking Him for what He will surely do, He shall then place His peace in the entrance of our hearts and minds as a guard against the enemy. This peace will guard our hearts and our thoughts as a strong warrior, so that no disturbing thoughts shall enter our minds. That is how effectively anxiety can be destroyed in the heart of those who seek repose in God through prayer and thanksgiving.
The next time anxiety and worry try to rob your peace, I urge you will cry out to God in prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, having the assurance that He will send the great Guard, His Peace, to keep your heart and mind centered in His truth. As you reach out to God in prayer, He will remind you of who you are – His beloved child! And although He may allow the strongest of storms to come your way, remember: He is holding you, in the hollow of His hand and shall never, ever let you go.
Dear Lord, thank you for Your Peace. Remind me to reach out to you in times of distress; remind me of promises You have given me in Your Word and remind me of whom I am in Christ – Your child, loved and cherished by You. I trust You will give me the strength to withstand the trials You allow in my life, and I thank you for each trial that You have helped me overcome. I pray You send me Your peace – unfathomable, perfect Peace. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen!
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