Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need,
Heavenly Father, thank you for catching every care we cast in your direction, taking every burden we offload onto your heart, and welcoming every worry we leave at your throne of grace. You know our needs better than we do, but here are some obvious ones.
We need grace to know you’re at work in the lives of people we love—family, friends, neighbors. On a daily basis, we need power to love others as Jesus loves us, rather than repaying grouchy for grouchy, indifference for indifference, or criticism for criticism.
We need wisdom for decisions looming on the horizon. We need peace to know you’re in control of our crazy world and achiest heartaches. We long for your Spirit to make your Fatherly affection the most defining, satisfying, liberating reality in our lives.
and thank him for all he has done.
Thank you for what you’ve already done? That’s an easy one. You’ve given us Jesus—who is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption; sovereign King and returning Groom. We praise and bless you for your indescribable gift of the gospel.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We gladly receive the promise and provision of your peace, Father. We don’t have to understand everything. We know your timing is Swiss and your ways are incomparable. Guard our fickle, wandering, impatient hearts.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
By faith, we set our minds, affections and gaze upon you, Lord Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… our merciful Savior and mighty Lord… the fountain of grace and ground of all hope. For you are the most true and honorable, right and pure, lovely and admirable One in all of space and time. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.
