A Beautiful Prayer for Inner Peace

“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

God draws us close to Him, where we can lay down the burden of worry and sin at His feet in exchange for the forgiveness and peace made possible by Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. When we lay our burdens down, Paul described the peace we find in Him as peace that “surpasses all understanding.” Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” This peace is the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace.”

Jehovah Shalom, The Lord is Peace, is one of the many names of God, particularly used in the Old Testament. The names of God reflect His character. “Scripture reminds us that He is faithful to provide an abundance of peace to all who call upon His name and choose to abide in His presence,” Joel Ryan explains.

Solomon wrote, “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6 ESV) Peace is often associated with silence and calmness. Merriam Webster defines peace as "a state of tranquility or quiet, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions; harmony in personal relations …”

Though the surface of our lives and surrounding world may be raging with calamity, in our souls the eternal peace of Christ resides, unscathed. For Christ-followers, this inner peace is a supernatural product of the Holy Spirit of the Living God living in us. The peace of God anchors us as we are tossed about in our daily lives, streaming constantly and reliably. King David penned, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26 ESV). The internal joy and peace we have in Christ cannot be shaken by the outside world and its battle with sin.

The Bible defines peace as “the harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit that supersedes earthly circumstances.” Christianity.com explains, “Throughout Scripture, we find that peace is defined as a blessing from God and harmonious with His character.”

The peace of Christ is a gift. Our salvation is not earned, but freely given by Christ via His sacrificial death on the cross. Once and for all, He made a way for us to come into the presence of God and receive salvation, ushering in forgiveness, mercy, peace, joy, and new life. Paul wrote to his mentee, Timothy, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV) Just as it cannot be earned, it cannot be stripped from us. Though on the outside we may be sorrowful and suffering, inwardly the peace of Christ sustains us.

Father,

Glory to You, Abba, Father. Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, and Messiah Savior. Holy Spirit, Counselor, and Comforter. Praise to the One True God! Purposeful and compassionate, full of peace and mercy, we are thankful for salvation in Christ. We are grateful for forgiveness and mercy. We relish the peace we abide in through Jesus.

Father, You are good. Every day, Your mercies are new. Through we consistently fall short and battle with sin, You never love us less. You made a way through Christ for us to come to You. There, we find peace that surpasses all understanding. An inward peace that changes our outward appearance! Praise You for the truth we embrace and ingest through the Bible.

Bless our lives with Your peace. Let it permeate our thoughts. Holy Spirit, remind us of the peace we have in Christ when we are stuck in rogue worries holding us captive. Every day, may we lay down what burdens us in exchange for the Peace in our hearts. Christ Jesus, You are with us always. Your Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we in You. You never leave us or forsake us, and our peace comes from You. Let the peace living in us not stop with us, but shine and love all of the people You have placed in our lives.

Despite what’s happening in the world, You have a good plan for our lives! Help us to embrace Peace when our lives threaten to come unwound …or are attacked by circumstances out of our control. Let us embrace each day on earth as a gift and a privilege to love on others and embrace Your blessings. Bring Your Word alive in our lives, Father.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

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“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)

Jesus did not enter the pages of Scripture at the Gospel of Matthew but is present from Genesis 1. He was with God in the beginning, and His birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecy after prophecy. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology explains, “The biblical concept of peace rests heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means ‘to be complete’ or ‘to be sound.’ God sacrificed His one and only Son so that we could experience true peace. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility,” Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14 ESV. Jesus came to earth and died for us so that through the forgiveness of our sins and relationship with our Father in heaven, peace would abound in our souls.

“The peace that Jesus gives is not circumstantially based,” John Piper explains, “It is peace in bad circumstances, in tribulation, no health insurance, and in police breakdown and societal breakdown. It’s in these things we have peace – the peace that passes all human comprehension.” Paul’s life reflected this fact! He was shipwrecked, jailed, beaten, mocked, and so much more! He wrote to the Colossians, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3 ESV) He knew, firsthand, the peace of Christ remained and sustained him through good times and tumultuous ones.

The Bible instructs us on how to find peace in Christ, but also how to live peaceful lives that bring glory to God. Paul wrote to the Romans, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21 ESV) The apostle Matthew, too, reminds us, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 ESV) These are not ways the world teaches or recommends, which is exactly why new life in Christ represents Him in us and not the world. It is His peace, flowing through us, which reflects His love.

1. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

2. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

3. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:18 ESV

4. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 ESV

5. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 ESV

6. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

7. “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:18 ESV

8. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 ESV

9. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” Galatians 5:22-23a ESV

10. “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14 ESV

11. “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

12. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ESV

13. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give though to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21 ESV

14. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD life his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

15. “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Click here for more Bible verses about Peace.

When peace is lacking in the world, we can be confident that it is still prevalent in every follower of Christ. No matter what’s happening in current events, His Truth and Love are covering the earth. God is in sovereign control, and through Christ, we have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

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