“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ – Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)
When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, He began with two simple but life-altering words: “Our Father”. In that opening phrase, Jesus reveals that when we pray, we are not approaching a distant, indifferent deity. We’re entering conversation with a loving Father who welcomes us. From the very first breath of prayer, we’re reminded of our identity as God’s children and of His nearness to us. Prayer is grounded in relationship – an invitation to come close, to speak honestly, and to trust deeply.
Paul echoes this relational dimension in Philippians 4:6-7. When he says, “Do not be anxious about anything”, he’s not demanding that we never worry. Instead, he’s offering prayer as an alternative to anxiety – a holy exchange where we bring our fears, needs, and uncertainties to God. Paul invites us to pour out “everything” to the Father in prayer, pleading (petition), and thanksgiving, trusting that God hears and responds.
In this way, prayer becomes our path from panic to peace. The peace that Paul describes is not tied to a guaranteed outcome or a promise that everything will unfold according to our desires. Instead, it’s the peace that comes from connection, from entrusting ourselves to the One who “surpasses all comprehension” and holds us in His care.
When we pray as Jesus taught and as Paul encouraged, we discover that peace is not the absence of problems. Peace is found in the presence of God. Prayer doesn’t steady us because it changes our circumstances right away, but it changes our posture… lifting our eyes from what threatens us to the God who loves us.
And in that change of focus, peace begins to “guard our hearts and our minds.”