Philippians 4:6-7   do not be anxious 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.

We often hear Pastors, and other Christ-followers alike, tell us to cast all of our troubles on the Lord. Often this phrase is preached or spoken with very little follow up instruction, or clarification of just exactly how we achieve this process. As we reflect on the verse above, a few things about the procedure become increasingly clear.

The first of which is to remain calm and try and quell the anxious feelings that we have about whatever it is that is troubling us as we go to Him in Prayer. The expectation is to approach God peacefully with the issue that we are bringing before Him. This could seem a difficult task as the subject of your prayer is exactly what caused the anxiety in the first place, yet our expected approach should be thoughtful and calm as we ask for His Grace. Supplication and thanksgiving are key terms in this process because it forces us to “beg humbly and thankfully” for His help in our current situation. This infers that we are to come to Him with our request as opposed to an expectation.

“Peace of God, that surpasses all understanding…” is the portion of this verse that is the most popular. It should comfort us immediately knowing that our hearts and minds are guarded closely by His love and care. I have found, in my personal experiences, that this peace is not always immediate.  My flesh resists that idea that I can just release this roadblock and not be tasked with picking it up again. It serves as a not-so-gentle reminder that His ways are not mine, and He is always in control.

Have a great week!

~Danny