By Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).
Certainly, we are living in a trying time in the history of our nation and our world. If we allow events to do so, our minds will become confused and our hearts will be struck with fear. God does not want us to live that way.
II Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us the spirit of fear. Instead, He gives us power, love, and a sound mind. We do not have to feel powerless. We do not have to join others in hatred. We can be enabled to think clearly despite all the chaos around us. How does this happen? It happens through lives filled with prayer.
Consistent prayer is a demonstration of our faith in God. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we cannot please God without faith. Our faith is simple, yet powerful. We believe God exists; we believe God rewards us when we diligently seek Him.
The experience of consistent prayer causes us to overcome the notion that God is a million miles away and not interested in our concerns. We have answered the call of Psalm 27:8, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face Lord, Will I seek.” We have moved beyond the quick-fix to our problems — seeking His hand. We know Him — seeking His face. Since we know Him, we see consistent, lasting results.
The peace of God settles into the lives of people who pray. Fear, confusion, and other negative opinions and attitudes fade because God is keeping our hearts and minds. We are absolutely assured that He is watching out for us. This is the lasting result of prayer.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 