Archive for August 3rd, 2006
A simple three step plan for personal peace
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 4-7)
I’ve added the last verse to the Sip of Scripture selection today because it completes Paul’s thought in this paragraph.
When I was a relatively new Christian, I remember hearing a sermon on this passage, particularly applied to how to not worry but have peace instead. And Paul’s words are clear here: we don’t need to worry because we have an alternative three step plan:
- By prayer and supplication,
- With thanksgiving,
- Let your requests be made known to God.
And the natural consequence of this:
- The peace of God … will guard your hearts and minds.
At times, I’ve been able to follow The Plan, which is, essentially, to let God take care of the things I worry about instead of worrying about them. But it’s also important to not just presume on God–God really does seem to want us to ask first, and be grateful for being able to ask as well as for the answers received. No one, not even God, likes to be presumed upon.
I have certainly noticed that people who have “an attitude of gratitude” seem more peaceful and joyful than people, well, people like me.
