don’t worry, be happy!

There is, I think, no Scripture that shows the meaning of prayer so clearly as the do the words of Paul, in Philippians 4:

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, 7 and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus.

“In prayer we bring our worries to God.” How often haven’t I heard this being said?! But prayer is the very opposite of expressing our worries. In prayer, we tell God our requests… with thanksgiving. That is the point! Whatever may be our request (for ourselves or for others), we express it and say, thank you! in advance. In the first place, we know that He is able to fulfill our requests, and secondly, if he does not fulfil our requests, then He has evidently something (much) better in store. As someone once said, if we ask God for silver, He always gives gold. That confidence makes all worries melt away. Why lie awake and worry? He provides most excellently!! To thank Him for this, makes it that the peace, which God Himself enjoys, takes hold of me. Why God does what He does, we usually have no clue. And how He will provide, we have no idea! It does not matter! The God of heaven and earth, has everything for 100% under His control. God is GOD! This knowledge is more than enough! This realization guards my soul and protects my thought-life, as in a fortress. This is not something to theorize about. Simply, make known to Him all your requests and THANK HIM! GOD can give ever so much more peace and joy into our lives, than we could ever think possible!   ——————————— translation: Peter Feddema  

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