By Timothy W. Burnett
It is God's will that all His people be anxious for nothing. Not only so, but He gave us the tools needed to fulfill this. In every situation let your requests be made known to God. All of God's people have needs and desires. And it is God's good pleasure to meet all of them that are according to His word. Our prayers and supplications must be with thankful hearts toward God. What results when we let our requests be made known unto God with thanksgiving? The peace that is from God absolutely shall guard your hearts and thoughts through Christ Jesus. God contrasts between anxiety and peace. These two are at odds with each other. This peace that is from God surpasses all understanding. It cannot be understood by our own imaginations.
The peace that is from God guards our hearts and thoughts. The word "heart" refers to the inner depths of the mind or the inner seat of existence. The reason we must guard our hearts and thoughts is because out of them are the issues of life. As it is written, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Our decisions, actions and words issue out from within the heart. Think about why we practice the things we do, or speak the things we say, feel the way we feel, or embrace the things we need or desire. It comes from what we have internalized in our hearts. What happens when those needs and desires are not met? Anxiety and doubt begins to permeate the inner depths of our minds. Next thing you know, we say things, experience emotions, or take actions that are based on those anxious thoughts. But God gave us the answer and remedy. Let our requests be made known unto God with thanksgiving, and the peace that is from God absolutely shall guard our hearts and thoughts through Christ Jesus. If our hearts and thoughts are guarded, then we are able to make sound and godly decisions. We are able to peacefully and humbly receive only the best from God. That's because He is only able to give the best.
There are many examples throughout the Bible,of God's people responding to various situations by making their requests known to God. Why not look at the best example of all. In Matthew 26:38-44, God's beloved first-born son let his request be made known to his Daddy. He said, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will." Did Jesus have his own will? You bet he did. But he brought it to his Daddy in prayer. He honestly let his request be made known to God. And as a result, the peace of mind from God guarded his heart and thoughts to the end that he was able to endure exceeding great suffering until he finished the work set before him. He became the final sacrificed Lamb for all of mankind. And God raised him from the dead, and sat him at His own right hand of all authority.
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