Jesus First: Seven Practices to Put Your Life Back in Orderნიმუში

Day 7: The Practice of Peace

Today, we’re reflecting on the practice of peace.

If we’re not careful, we can misread today’s verse. “Do not be anxious about anything” (NIV verse 6) can land like a blunt instrument – especially in a world where anxiety is so deeply woven into our lives. To the weary or overwhelmed, it might sound like Paul is offering little more than dismissive spiritual stoicism: “Just stop worrying.” But that would be a grave misreading of both Paul and the passage.

Context is everything. Right before this famous command, Paul writes a short but significant phrase: “The Lord is near” (NIV Philippians 4:5). This is not a throwaway line. It’s the theological engine behind everything that follows. The call to resist anxiety is not rooted in pithy willpower, but in powerful proximity: God’s proximity. Rather than urging us to suppress our fears, Paul is urging us to relocate them into the presence of the living God.

From here, Paul gives us a roadmap for the practice of peace. First, “in every situation,” we are to “present [our] requests to God” (NIV verse 6). But notice how he tells us to do it: “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.” Each word matters.

Prayer reminds us we are not alone. It is relational and formational, renewing our minds and realigning our perspective as we cry out to God.

Petition invites specificity: naming our fears, needs, and hopes.

Thanksgiving reshapes our posture, anchoring us in remembrance and trust.

This practice – repeated not occasionally but in every situation – prepares the soil of our hearts for God’s peace to take root. And this peace is unlike anything the world can fabricate. It “transcends all understanding” (NIV verse 7) because it doesn’t come from our circumstances but from Christ Himself. Paul even describes it as a guard: actively protecting our hearts and minds from being overwhelmed, disoriented, or consumed.

Let this deep truth land: putting Jesus first in your life is the only path to true peace, because true peace only comes from Him. The more we prioritise noticing God’s nearness, turning to Him with openness, and thanking Him for His grace, the more our lives become anchored – even when storms rage.

So don’t delay. Practice peace today. Go to Jesus first – again and again – with your prayers, petitions and gratitude. He is near. And He loves you.

Practice Prompt: Take 1-2 minutes today, and each day this week, to pause and do three

things:

1. Acknowledge God’s nearness — say aloud or write: “The Lord is near.”

2. Name your worries — in prayer, present one specific anxiety or burden to God. Be honest and clear.

3. Give thanks — name three things you’re grateful for, however small.

Set an alarm, tie it to a regular moment (like your morning coffee or commute), and let this become a daily ‘peace practice’ of letting go and leaning in.

Prayer: Jesus, I still my mind and become aware of your nearness. I bring to you now the things that are weighing on me: [take a moment to name your worries]. I entrust them, one by one, into your hands. As I do so, I’m mindful of the good things you have given me. Today, I give thanks for [name three things you are grateful for]. I receive the gift of your peace – the peace that transcends my understanding. Amen.