Monday, April 6, 2026

Prayer + Praise = Peace (devotional 4 of 4)

 From Be Still and Know ...

"If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus " (Philippians 4:7, LB).


This verse begins with "If you would do THIS."  Do what?  Pray instead of worrying.  Our problem may not always be removed, but we can have peace instead of anxiety.

It is easy to have peace when we have the security of a home, position, bank account, friends, and health.  But God's peace sustains us when trouble comes and the heart is breaking.

Before Jesus left earth, He promised to leave His peace for us.  He said, "Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).  This is a supernatural peace, a peace that passeth our understanding, but not our experience.

Satan will do all in his power to keep us worried and upset.  But Jesus keeps our hearts and minds at peace.  In exchange for our problems He gives us His peace.  "And the peace of God which transcends human understanding will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus" (Phillips).  This word "keep" has the thought of acting as a guard over our hearts and minds, preventing anything from upsetting our inner peace.

We can have an inner peace during the storms in our lives.  This peace is Christ Himself, for "HE IS OUR PEACE ..." (Ephesians 2:14).

His peace is personal - it will keep OUR hearts and minds.
God's formula for "peace instead of worry" is: "Be careful for nothing; be prayerful in everything; be thankful for anything; be peaceful through all things."


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