01/04/2024
Today as I read my morning devotional, E.M. Bounds went on to speak deeper about the peace of God and the effect prayer has on worry and stress. So I am contemplating two of his thoughts as I read Philippians 4 once again.
"Cares divide, distract, bewilder, and destroy unity and quietness of mind." – E.M. Bounds
And
"Prayer about everything can quiet every distraction, and lift every care from weary lives and from confused hearts." – E.M. Bounds
These observations coupled with Philippians 4:7 which speaks specifically about the peace of God through Christ should comfort us today.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 ESV
A peace which "passeth all understanding" can be looked at in two ways... It can be a peace of immense proportion, or it can be a peace which we feel at times when human logic dictates that we shouldn't feel peaceful. I believe it to be both.
There have been times in my life when it felt like my entire world was crumbling and yet, at the zenith of that stress and worry, I was able to find a great and inexplicable peace in God through prayer. I was able to hand Him the reins of my runaway stagecoach and rest assured that He would avoid the cliff we were rushing towards. This peace was overwhelming and defied conventional logic... Yet there it was, and in that moment the horses of worry and stress slowed and turned away from certain disaster. This peace and salvation surpasses not only my understanding but also my ability to accomplish. In prayer we petition God, in our prayers He hears our deepest longings and most dire needs... Then He gives us peace as He stops the runaway stress of the moment and resolves our situation.
That is how I read Bounds’ devotional this morning, and I pray that in your moments of great stress and worry that you too will have the faith and clarity of thought and spirit that will lead you to prayer, and into His peaceful presence. Our God is so great, and His peace is truly beyond all understanding. Jesus prayed to our Father continuously and fervently for good reason, and for this we call him the Prince of Peace... How wonderful is our prayer life, and it is available equally to each of us.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your peace that we receive when we pray to you, and thank you for your Son Jesus who among many wonderful titles is called the Prince of Peace. You comfort us Abba as we hold tight to you and bury our faces deep in your embrace. Merciful are you who calms all dread and fear as we whisper our secret prayers to you. There is no prayer that goes unheard nor unanswered, and none so difficult or complex that you are befuddled by them. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who bends down and touches us with your healing hand. Gracious are you who sets a table before us when we are starving physically or spiritually. Great are you who comforts us in every storm, and to whom we give all the glory for each and every good thing and mercy you provide. Praised be your name Holy Father for hearing each word and moan we utter, and for receiving them in patience, and promised resolve.
Rich Forbes