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The Shalom of Prayer

Philippians 4:6

During the final moments of a great performance in a concert hall, when the orchestra sounds the final notes and the music fades away, a brief silence engulfs the hall as listeners revel in the masterful work they have just experienced. The sense of completion listeners experience in that moment is similar to the biblical concept of shalom or peace. Paul speaks of this peace when he talks about the benefits of praying rather than worrying. Only when we pray do we experience the sense of wholeness and rightness that Jesus alone can bring.

When we worry, part of our mind tries to cling to the promises of God, while another part is overtaken by anxiety. Prayer is the antidote to worry. Paul uses four different words for prayer in this short verse: (1) prayer describes any reverent address directed to the Father; (2) supplication means to petition God for one's needs; (3) requests are the particular items on one's prayer list; (4) thanksgiving is prayer offered from a grateful heart (Eph. 5:18–20; 1 Thess. 5:17, 18). Peace through prayer is God's antidote to worry. Its supernatural powers guard our hearts like a vigilant soldier, keeping watch through the day and night. When God's peace guards our hearts, we can focus on living as Jesus wants us to, free from fear and doubt.

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