Prayer can eradicate anxiety and bring peace of mind - 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.
- Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
More About This Verse
MEANING
Feeling anxious? God tells us to pray about everything, bringing every concern to Him. As part of our prayer time, He instructs us to be thankful, to have gratitude because He knows how powerful it is to pray with the expectation of God’s goodness and grace. Prayer gives us the opportunity to leave our burdens with God; the God of all creation wants us to lean on Him for help. Prayer helps us learn to rely on and trust in God. When we pray, we build faith and practice knowing that God is willing and able to help us. And Prayer reveals the glory and authority of God when He answers.
God promises that if we turn to Him in difficult times, He will give us a peace beyond belief, beyond understanding. And this peace will be a guard—or protector—of our hearts and minds. The peace spoken of here is supernatural; it’s not the kind of peace that’s fleeting or based on our circumstances.
Satan uses our fears and desires against us in ways that are not always obvious: he might convince us that our current situation is hopeless, or that God is too busy for us, or that God doesn’t care about our problems—none of that is true! Satan will do anything to separate us from God, and sometimes all he must do is convince us of a small lie to get us going in the wrong direction. He wants us to forget God’s promises and truth.
But God’s promises of unconditional love and peace drive away worry and anxiety. When we don’t rely on God, we are trying to carry a burden that wasn’t meant for us. Like a parent who desperately wants to support a child, God comes beside us and says, in effect, “this burden wasn’t meant for you alone.” God rejoices when we trust Him and rely on His grace, willingness, and ability to help us.
So, practice putting your mind to finding comfort, joy, and peace in Christ. This practice strengthens your faith. And it guards your heat and mind against anxiety and fear. It enables you to be present with God, not doubting, but praying and obeying with the knowledge that God works for your good.
EXPLORE THIS PASSAGE MORE
We get the most out of each verse when we understand them in context. So, feel free to dig a little deeper into the meaning of this verse with these resources:
The Message version says this verse this way:
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7, MSG).
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