Pathway to Peace

Philippians 4:6-7

"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."

It is so easy to worry. I just recently had 2 of my kids and my husband go to kids camp for 5 days. The worries that flooded my mind were numerous--are they going to get there safely? Will they make friends? Will they be homesick? Will they get hurt? Will they learn anything? I don't know if I am capaple of dealing with the hard emotions of loneliness and stresses that come as I continue to parent my oldest while they are gone. The list could go on.

This verse tells us exactly what do to:

Don't worry about anything.

Simple right? It's not that we don't have things to worry us, but when when we hear the incessant voice of worry we don't let it consume us.

Pray about everything.

Instead we filter it through conversation with Jesus. I often want to think and re-think and analyze and over analyze with myself. But what is written, is not to turn to introspection but to talk about it with the One who has all the answers and desires to meet your needs.

And ask him for what we need.

Just a few verses after these is says, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NLT

What do we actually need? Protection? Provision? Security? Healing? Someone to step in when the battle gets hard and we're weary? Discernment? Wisdom? He already wants to BE these things for you more than you want Him to DO it for you. So why are we not asking for Him to take care of our needs?

And thank Him for all He has done.

If He's done it before. He can and will do it again. That is the power of a testimony. Let's remember to thank Him with grateful hearts for who He is and what He's already done.

Then you will experience...wait for it...God's peace!

What a promise! If I'm honest, for the longest time I never took this verse at face value. It is the way into God's peace. His perfect peace. I just happened to stumble into it. If we put this verse into practice, then what we actually needed when we "worry" would be received as we implement this verse. We would receive His peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds!

What are you worried about today? Bring it before the Lord and receive His peace!