Wednesday, March 14, 2018

March 15, 2018

"If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Storms are frightening because they are powerful, destructive and far beyond your control. As a result you feel powerless and out of control. And in fact, you are!

When you are in the midst of a storm all you want is to get out of the storm immediately or as soon as possible. You are looking for a path out of the storm.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians at Philippi offers a path to peace. Notice, he doesn't offer a path out of the storm but a path to peace while you are in the storm!

What is that path to peace you may be wondering?

It is found in the previous verse:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

A path requires steps. The steps are clearly laid out for you!

1) Choose not to be overcome by anxiety

Jesus said to his anxious disciples, "Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me."

Feelings of fear or anxiety may not be a choice, but giving in to them is! Paul says, "Choose prayer over despair!"

2) In every situation choose not to be anxious

If you can choose not to give into anxiety once, you can choose not to every time! 

I've heard it said that if you do something consciously three times it becomes a habit! Worrying and fretting is a habit so why couldn't faith become a habit?

3) Choose prayer over despair

When you begin to feel anxious or fearful or out of control, choose to cast your anxiety on Christ! How? Through prayer!

How do I pray?

A simple way to remember prayer is the ACTS of prayer!

Adoration - begin by praising and worshiping God as you come into His presence

Confession - come into alignment with God by confessing the sins His Spirit convicts you of.

Thanksgiving - express gratitude to God for Who He is, for what He has done in your life, and for what He longs to do as you trust Him and allow Him His way with you!

Supplication - once you have aligned your heart, mind and spirit with God, you will know what to ask God for and how to ask Him! The key to supplication is to ask specifically! When you ask specifically you will recognize when God has answered your prayer and be encouraged!

The first step down the path to peace begins with a decision to prayer over despair!

Will you choose the path of panic or the path of prayer today?