Prayer And Supplication: High Road To Peace And Happiness

Our major goal in life is to achieve peace and happiness. Unfortunately this has become a mirage for most people.

Trouble has existed time immemorial. We all have our fair share of it. Day in and day out we experience trouble, disappointment, discouragement, depression, frustration, anxiety, worry and the like.

Every generation that encountered these challenges were able to subdue them. It is our turn to experience these things but I believe with the right attitude we will overcome and live victoriously.

Paul of Tarsus knew the problems Christians would go through and accordingly advised; “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)

We all know the consequences of worry-it saps our energy and deplete our happiness. Worry and anxiety can lead to ill health.

When these negative things are happening we can hardly achieve our goals. Paul tells us in the midst of trouble we can find contentment by being grateful for everything we have and hope for.

Prayer is a powerful way to acknowledge God and what he is doing in our lives. When we pray we talk to God. We give him thanks for his mercies and goodness towards us. We thank him for his protection and for sustaining our lives.

Prayer and supplication brings us into the presence of God. This offers us the opportunity to tell him whatever is worrying us and humbly ask for favour. We also make our requests known to him for a positive response. That positive response is the peace that comes to us. It comes to us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. It comes to us because we have made Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace the centre of our lives.

Friend, do not let the troubles of this world take away your happiness and peace. Why don’t you turn to God in times of need. God is ever present to help if we humble ourselves and obey his commandments and keep our covenants. “The Lord promised that if we would be humble in …times of need and turn to him for aid, we would “be made strong, and be blessed from on high.” (D&C 1:28).

We always need knowledge and wisdom to guide our thoughts, our words and our actions, so that everything we do will be acceptable to God. Prayer is the way to obtain knowledge, wisdom and spiritual guidance.

Wisdom is the principal thing and with it come wealth, honour and glory. In James 1:5 the word of God says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Beloved, it is human nature that no one ever wants to experience pain or suffering. But it is part of God’s plan for our eternal progress. There is blessing in adversity and for that matter suffering.

A prophet once said, “We came to mortal life to encounter resistance. It was part of the plan for our eternal progress. Without temptation, sickness, pain, and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well-being, or joy… We must remember that the same forces of resistance which prevent our progress afford us also opportunities to overcome.”

What load of adversity are you carrying? When we come to the Saviour, he will ease our burdens and lighten our loads. He commands: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Precious child of God, do not let worry or anxiety overtake your life. Instead follow the wise counsel of the scriptures:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee..

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:6,8)

In conclusion, prayer and supplication must become an integral part of your life. Expressing gratitude should form part of your daily prayers. Make your requests known and God’s peace will rule your heart and mind. Jesus Christ has power to give you rest and the peace you crave for. Therefore, make Jesus Christ and his gospel the centre of your life.

Yours in inspiration,
Abundant Robert
Correction Officer, Priest & Author.