Be careful for nothing (Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything); but in every thing (every circumstance; situation) by prayer and supplication (definite requests) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth (transcends) all understanding, shall keep (garrison and mount guard) your hearts (emotions) and minds (thoughts) through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7).

Wednesday night I gave an exhortation to my home church family, Koinonia Fellowship, at our mid-month prayer meeting. I went before our heavenly Father with the prayer requests we collected from the brothers and sisters in our church.

We are a family of needy, hurting, broken people who need Jesus desperately. To pray for one another and with one another is the will of God.

In our verses today, the effect of faithful prayer here is stated first negatively, then positively. Negatively: “Don’t be anxious about anything.” Positively: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts (your emotions) and minds (your thoughts) in Christ Jesus.”

If you want victory over worry and you want to have the steady enjoyment of God’s peace…pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray about everything and for everything. Instead of worrying, pray. When you worry, pray.

Our Lord said that worry cannot add an inch to your height, but we know it can take a year off your life.

Cast your cares upon Abba. Our God is not an unjust judge. He is our gracious, kind, loving Father and Almighty King. The peace of God is not found in positive thinking, or in the absence of conflict, or in good feelings. The peace of God comes from knowing that God is in control. The peace of God is that firm confidence that Jesus Christ is near, and that God’s love is at work “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Prayer is all about God and His will being done. For most of us, God hasn’t become our one and only source of happiness and peace. We, therefore, tend to pray to procure things for our happiness, and things that will make us happy, instead of praying to know Him better and His purposes more clearly through this trial or difficulty.

The Bible does not see prayer as merely a way to get things from God, but as a way to get more of God Himself. “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)