How to Experience God’s Peace

Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
–Psalm 119:165

When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he had good reason to be anxious. He was imprisoned and facing what could have been his execution. Yet instead of becoming anxious about his circumstances, Paul experienced God’s peace. In Philippians 4, Paul shared his three-dose antidote against the poison of anxiety.

Dose number one: Pray persistently. Verses 6–7 say, “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.” I love the way The Living Bible paraphrases the first part of verse 6: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Guard against anxiety by turning your worry list into your prayer list.

Dose number two: Think truthfully. Look at verse 8: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Let me tell you a secret: Media outlets—conservative, liberal, and in between—often get our attention by capitalizing on our anxiety. Quit allowing your anxiety to go through the roof by listening to conspiracy theories and other foolishness designed to make you tune in. Instead, focus on what is right and pure. Did you know the Bible uses those same words to describe God’s Word? Psalm 19:8 says, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Make God’s Word your focus.

Dose number three: Live obediently. Philippians 4:9 says, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” It’s not enough to know God’s Word—you have to practice God’s Word. When you practice what you know to be true, your anxiety decreases and your peace increases.

God has not promised to take you out of your circumstances, but He has given you everything you need to conquer the mountain of anxiety and experience His peace—if you will pray persistently, think truthfully, and live obediently to Him.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Anxiety to Peace,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.