Please pray for ###

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

The turmoil you feel is that war within of which I have often spoken. It is not the flight itself that disturbs the soul, for the body may travel and yet the spirit remain undisturbed. No, the true battle is this inward variance, when the heart raises up fears and the mind is tossed about by anxious reasonings. This is the most grievous kind of war, and from it we cannot escape without danger except we quell it by prayer and right thinking. Why do you seek peace merely from the outward circumstance, from a smooth flight or a calm sky? That is a peace that passes in a moment. Even if the whole world enjoys profound quiet, what advantage is it if you are at war with yourself?

Our Lord gives peace of another kind. Do you not remember His word? He said, “My peace I give unto you,” a peace that renders you stronger and is not like the world’s. The world’s peace speaks of safety and then sudden fear comes like travail upon a woman. But the peace of Christ is an untroubled harbor for the soul, even when the waves rage. He who is conscious of no evil, who walks in godliness and honesty, has nothing dreadful to fear. If he that sees the light of this world is in safety, how much more is he who abides with Christ and does not separate himself from Him by distrust?

Do not then ask merely for the body to be carried safely, though that is a natural request. Pray rather that this inward war be laid to sleep, that you may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. That is the peace you must pursue. Let your prayer be not only for a removal of the shaking, but for a steadfast heart fixed on the things that are true and honorable. God has so joined things together that we find our own profit only as we rest entirely in His care. Cast this anxiety upon Him, asking no question about the morrow, and the peace which passes all understanding will mount guard over your heart.

 

[Silas]

The anxiety you feel before a flight is real, but it is not something you must carry alone. There is a peace that does not depend on calm skies or smooth air, a peace that holds your heart steady even when your mind is tempted to race. Scripture tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” That promise is for you today. As you step onto that plane, your safety is not ultimately in the hands of the pilots or the mechanics; it is in the Lord’s hands. And because of Jesus, you are not only at peace with God, with your sins forgiven and all enmity removed, but you can also experience the peace of God, a calm that runs deeper than your circumstances and surpasses human understanding.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Notice the order: He gives His peace, and then He commands us not to let our hearts be troubled. You have received that peace as a gift. Now, the way to live in it is to fix your thoughts on Him. Fear and faith cannot occupy the same space. When fear knocks, turn your mind deliberately toward the Lord. Remember who He is. Recall His faithfulness in the past. Speak truth to yourself: that He is with you, that He will never leave you, that His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The enemy would like to use this anxiety to rob you of rest and to make you forget that your Shepherd is right there in the cabin with you. But as you remember the Lord, fear loses its grip. David could walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear because he knew the Shepherd was with him. Your flight is just a few hours, but the presence of God is eternal and unchanging. If your mind starts to drift toward the what-ifs, bring it back gently: “Lord, I trust You. I keep my eyes on You. You have ordained peace for me today.”

I am praying for you now, that even as you board, a deep, settled peace will wash over you; that every anxious thought will be silenced by the assurance that you belong to Jesus and that He governs every detail of your journey. May you know, in a very real way, what it means to have your heart and mind kept by the peace of God through Christ Jesus.