Lunch: Prayer & Peace

By Hillary Mortensen

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 4:5-7, New International Version

Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

And God's peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its early lot of whatever sort that is, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7, The Amplified Bible

I have little more to add to these relatively straightforward exhortations.

Instead of having lives marked by anxiety, let's live lives characterized by prayer and thanksgiving, leading to an overwhelming, God-given peace.

Thank God for:

• taking care of Adam during the past months
• providing excellent medical care
• providing Amy the strength to endure this hardship
• prayer warriors across the country and even across the world
• Amy's safe return from her recent trip to Boston
• acceptance to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center
• Adam hugging Amy
• His everlasting love
• His continual guidance
• Adam & Amy's small group from Triangle Community Church

Pray specifically for:

• comfort and strength for Amy, Mackenzie, Adam's parents & brothers
• regulation of Adam's temperature
• victorious battle against infection
• God would remove our fears as we lay them before Him
• a full recovery of Adam's physical body
• logistics of packing and moving

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13