Prayer
"Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:6-7).
Now there's a challenge. To
be careful, that is to be full of anxious care over nothing. Is that possible?
Well, look at the context.
There was an equally stiff
challenge given in verse 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say,
rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice at all times, in all circumstances,
under all conditions. Then he gives the challenge to patiently bear any
affliction and to enjoy the good times of life in a steady, tranquil spirit.
Why?
Because the Lord is at hand;
He is with us, nearer than our closest friend. The lifestyle of Jesus did not
have those violent ups and downs that can often characterize our daily walk. He
left us an example; he moved through life manifesting neither abject despair
when things went wrong, nor giddy light‑heartedness when things went
well.
So the call to rejoice has
its origin and termination in God. Then he says in light of all of that, be
full of anxious care over nothing.
Jesus had taught the same
thing on an earlier occasion: "Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment?
Therefore, take no thought saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink?
or, with what shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these
things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:25‑34).
There are two kinds of care.
One is the care of wise planning and prudence. The other is the care of
distrust which only leads to a burdened heart and sorrowful spirit. He then
goes on to show us how to live above it. "In everything by prayer and
supplication let your requests be made known unto God."
As an antidote to worry he
prescribes a lifestyle of constant prayer. I am a firm believer in having
stated times of prayer, but here is the exhortation to pray when things burden
our spirit; to pray when we need direction and strength. Naturally we must mix
thanksgiving with our supplications as a bold statement to God that we believe
the answer is on the way.
What is the result of it
all? "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." God wants to infuse our troubled
lives with His peace. He wants to surprise our troubled hearts with a blessed
transfusion of peace.
When that happens, others
who know your situation and circumstance will not understand how you can be a
peace in the midst of tumult. You may not understand it yourself. That's why it
is called the peace that passes understanding.
This vital Bible verse is
just one of 60 carefully selected scriptures that are contained in the
Navigators Scripture Memory course. If you want to
memorize Scripture, but aren't sure what to memorize or how to get started,
this is exactly what you need. The Topical Memory System includes memory verse cards in four different Bible versions -
NIV, KJV, NASB, NKJV. Topics include all of the basics of the Christ-centered
Spirit-filled life, sharing your faith, and growing on to maturity in your walk
with God. May God bless you as you fill your life with His Word.
© Copyright 2002, LeRoy Eims