Episode 93: Philippians 4:6-7
Today’s verse is Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
Let’s pray together.
Jesus, I’m not sure why worry and anxiety have such a hold on me. I don’t know why I constantly need to surrender control to You. Why I always have to be reminded that You hold me perfectly in the palm of Your hand. I know I love to direct how my life will go. It feels safer that way, even when I am overwhelmed with my circumstances. At least then I know someone is doing something about it. I know I will protect my best interests to the fullness of my ability. And so I trust myself above You. And I declare, so foolishly, to the universe, that I am somehow greater than God. And in doing so, I call You a liar, stating that You do not keep Your promise to sustain me. Oh, Jesus, please forgive me.
Father, I pray that you banish fretting and worry from my life. I pray my soul is filled with peace and confidence in You. I pray that the things that surround me and the things that influence me, are things that lead me to You. Help me, dear LORD, to surrender all my will to Yours. I pray that whenever anything happens, my first thought is always to seek Your will and to have faith that You are near and that I am not abandoned.
Jesus, thank You that we have the option of prayer. Thank You that You desire a relationship with us. I am so happy that You want to be close to me and speak to me and listen to me. And that even though You know all, You still want me to tell You the desires of my heart. You still want me to reach out to You in desperation and faith. You still want to be the comforter, the giver, the provider, the blesser, the protector, the One I can rely on. Please help me to remember to pray first. If I must ask questions, let them be of You. I know You can handle any one I might come up with. Let me be known as a presenter of requests to God.
And I pray then for gratitude and thanksgiving, a proper, honoring response to Your Providence. I pray that my heart is filled with joy because it knows that You care and You are near and You will take care of me. I pray that I never take any of Your gifts for granted. Let me be humble and thankful as I pray, knowing that all I have comes from You and that I have not earned anything except by paths You have laid out for me.
Jesus, give Your perfect peace. Give that wonderful, incomprehensible, precious gift. Let it guard my heart and mind, shielding them through You. I pray that even though I can’t understand it or explain it or bottle it away, that it is mine through Your kindness and your compassion. I thank You for it, for this wonderful spiritual blessing that You bestow though we do not deserve it. I ask that it be continual, renewed through Your Spirit and that it is compounded as I am grateful and that through each answered prayer, even if it’s hard to see how, I acknowledge more and more that my peace comes through You.
Thank You again, dear Father. I pray this in the bountiful and the peaceful and the giving name of Christ. Amen.
