Change Happens

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9

As God’s righteous children we know His promises are ours.  I think that is the beginning of the "Rejoice."  If I remember that I am God's child and His promises are true, then I will not be overcome by anxious fears.  I can remember that God holds all of my problems and worries in His hands.  Hearing God speak these promises to us in effectual prayer can’t help but result in Peace.

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1

Earnest Prayer is all about Faith! Having a deep relationship based on trust with the Lord.  This faith from a deep relationship of trust brings peace from Christ.  This peace is a guard of our heart and mind.  Like soldiers assigned to watch over a certain area, God’s peace garrisons our heart and mind -
that is, the emotions and thoughts, of God’s children.  The enemy seeks to keep us anxious and ineffectual in our life and His Kingdom.

This peace from God results in inner tranquillity (calm worry-free state) of a believer’s heart due to intimate communion with God. This peace of God goes beyond the range of all limits of understanding, that is, it is beyond man’s ability to comprehend.


How is prayer affecting you?


--Michael Walker, Zine Smith

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