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Supernatural Power
Karen Friday
I’m
praying for you to have peace which surpasses all understanding.
My
heart meant well. I’d talked and prayed about this kind of peace mentioned in
Scripture umpteen times for friends and loved ones.
It
became my go-to thing to say. What a good pastor’s wife should say.
For
me, it turned trite. But I soon discovered it goes much deeper and is more
substantial than ever imagined.
A
friend, Cory, faced surgery. Sending her a phone text, I asked how she was
doing and expressed how I was praying for her to have peace.
Cory
admitted to being afraid, her mind thinking of all the what-if scenarios.
So
I called to pray with her, quoting Scriptures about peace. She needed
comforting peace and words to hang on to with all her might.
We
talked and prayed to a God who hears and cares about us.
I
knew Philippians 4:7 by memory. Still, I
never totally got it. I just knew if it surpasses all understanding, it must be
good. The best peace available.
As
soon as the call ended, I picked up my Bible to read the passage. My mind
thinking, there’s
something to this.
I
first read the verse before it:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
There in black and white on the pages of
God’s Word, we find the preliminary cause for unrest. “Do not be anxious.”
Then
we come to the word “but.”
Instead
of being anxious, we pray, adding thanksgiving to our requests. We replace our
anxiety with a thankful heart.
The
desired outcome?
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (ESV)
Here’s
the wow factor.
Feast
your eyes on these synonyms of surpass by
Google: “excel, exceed, transcend; outdo, outshine, outstrip, outclass,
overshadow, eclipse; improve on, top, trump, cap, beat, better, outperform.”
Folks,
there you have it. God’s peace is better
and beats anything I muster up in my own power. It trumps anything the world
offers us. God’s peace outshines it all.
God’s
supernatural and so is His peace. It transcends all natural forms. It outdoes.
It overshadows. It outperforms every single time.
And
when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, it does.
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be
removed. But my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of
peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (ESV)
What
a promise! A guaranteed pledge God’s peace is never eliminated from our lives.
It exceeds everything else out there.
God
never breaks promises. He’s the true promise keeper.
God
forms a peace covenant with us. It’s at our disposal every time we take anxious
thoughts to Him. When we make our requests known to Him.
By
praying with thanksgiving to Him. Expecting peace from Him. And knowing the best
peace comes from Him.
Philippians
reminds us our peace lies in
Christ Jesus.
Christ
made peace between us and God on the cross and He’s still in the peacemaking
business.
Cory’s
surgery and her road to recovery went well. I continue to pray for my loved
ones and myself to find the road to peace when we have troubled hearts.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
to you.” John 14:27 (ESV)
It’s
supernatural peace. Peace with superpowers.
Can God change your life?
God
has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in
your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God. You
can also send us your prayer requests.
Karen Friday
is a pastor’s wife and lover of words through writing, blogging, and speaking.
For over a decade, she has balanced the busy life of church ministry with
working from her home office in marketing. Karen earned a communications degree
and has experience in a broad spectrum of business services where she is
frequently referred to as Girl Friday. A blogger, Karen ‘Girl’ Friday engages a
community every week, Hope is Among Us,expressing scriptural truths
as life happens. She has published a number of articles and devotions in both
print and online media. An inspirational speaker, Karen addresses a wide
variety of audiences. She is passionate about mentoring women and discipling
followers of Christ to live with authentic faith. Karen and Mike Friday reside
in East Tennessee and have two grown children and grandchildren. The entire
family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday!” They owe
Monday an apology.
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