Thursday, September 9, 2021

Listen to the Word
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Our Scripture calls us to pray “in every situation.” God invites us to pray all the time, as our regular habit, no matter what is going on. The Scripture says that prayer is the path from anxiety to peace. But it isn’t telling us that praying when we are worried is the path to peace. Praying “in every situation” is the path to peace. So the key to peace is not just tossing up a quick prayer in the heat of an anxious moment. They key to peace is living life in regular communication with God, praying in every situation. If prayer is our pattern, if we are people of prayer, then we will have peace.

So you don’t need to wait until you are worried to pray. Make prayer your lifestyle, not just your response to a crisis. If you pray even when you are not worried, then you will worry less.

Live the Word
What were you doing right before you read this devotion? Spend some time in prayer talking to God about it, whatever it was. It may not seem like a big deal or a “spiritual” thing to discuss with God, but it is part of the “in every situation” category about which he invites you to pray.