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 4:9
If we were sitting across the table from each other, you could probably easily tell me what’s stealing your peace. You can (and should) pray about these matters. But praying isn’t all you can do. “Don’t worry about anything,” Paul wrote, “but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). Then what? “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
When prayer teams up with gratitude, when you open your eyes wide enough to look for God’s mercies amid your pain, He meets you with His indescribable peace. It’s a promise: prayer + thanksgiving = peace.
Prayer is vital, yes. But to really experience His peace during problems, you must come to Him with gratitude. Costly gratitude. The kind that trusts He is working for your good even in unpleasant circumstances. The kind that garrisons your troubled heart and mind with His unexplainable peace.
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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings
©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
What stressful situation is weighing on you? Pray about it and offer up thanksgiving along with your petitions.