Philippians 4:5b-7- There's Wonderful Pow'r in the Blood!

Scripture:
The Lord is near. 
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:5b-7, NASB

Fireweed along Michigan River in Colorado-2013

Observation:
-God is near, not off in the distance.
-There is nothing that should leave me anxious, I just need to turn it all over to God in prayer, and in return His peace will reign in my heart and mind.

Columbine also along the Michigan River- 2013

Application:
Oh, how I love these verses on prayer.  Oh, how I love that through Jesus we have been given access to God the Father.  We can come to Him with anything and everything because of the work Jesus accomplished on the cross.  This access to God is one of the great benefits of being a Christian.

Notice what this passage does and doesn't say.  It does tell us to come to God in prayer, to bring our "supplications" (or petitions or requests) to Him.  It does not say He will give us everything we ask for.

 I am actually feeling a bit anxious this morning, have been for most of the weekend.  My stomach gets that "tied up in knots" sort of feeling when I think about the situation.  Why is that?  I have prayed about it; even on my way into the office this morning I was praying about it.  Of course this verse states that the peace of God will guard my heart and mind, it does not say anything about my stomach.  Though I suspect the three are highly connected.
I do feel better after having spent time in prayer, but in this particular situation the problem is that all I can do is pray and remain anxious for another person...and perhaps that is a good thing as it keeps me praying.  

Photo by Deb Davis 2013

I did not get this post finished yesterday.  This morning I have to say there is peace.  The situation that was leaving me anxious is not better, in fact it has actually worsened.  So I gave a lot of thought to why I was still feeling anxious last night.  I mean this verse says that God's peace will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  Honestly, I don't know what the difference is beyond I specifically asked for that peace of God to come.  I went right to sleep and slept well and there is not a single knot in my stomach this morning.  I cannot explain it.  But wait...doesn't that verse also say something about God's peace being beyond comprehension? 

It is not wishful thinking that His peace will come to guard our hearts and minds.  It is a fact for those who believe on the name of Jesus Christ.  That peace God gives has a purpose other than to just make me feel good.  One of the definitions of the the word guard is "the act or duty of protecting or defending" according to Webster. I am less likely to say or do something that will not bring glory to God if my heart and mind are being protected.  With them at peace, fear or anger or whatever else are not ruling my decisions, my reactions.  I cannot help but think of Paul.  Again, he was imprisoned as he wrote this letter, yet look at the tone of it.  He is here to tell us that our lives as believers are far above anything the world can throw at us.  He is here to remind us over and over again of who we are in Christ and just what that means.  There is truly power in the blood as the old hymn says, and it does not end at the point of my acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior.  It is a power that will change every moment of my life when I yield myself to Him.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy dear friends,
Deb

There Is Power in the Blood
by Lewis E. Jones, 1899
Copyright: Public Domain

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Refrain:
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.