Today is Independence Day in the United States, and for the Morning Mass my priest used the optional “For Civil Needs: For Peace and Justice” readings from the New Roman Missal.

The First Reading was from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 4:6-9;

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

This is the key in understanding God’s will, and in praying and petitioning God.

In everything you do, in your needs and wants, make your requests to God, if you have faith, you should have no anxiety in the matter. Consider it handled by God. He will resolve it. The lousy thing from our perspective is that He will handle it in His time, and the answer may not be what we want. But it will be what we need. And we will be happy with it if we recognize the answer. (Sometimes we may miss the answer to our prayers and miss the opportunity presented if it wasn’t exactly what we asked for. We need to be in tune with the still, small voice within us cluing us in.)

In seeking God’s will, the answer should be in a form of peace that settles over you. Opposing God’s will usually brings conflict (I mean inner conflict, but check out the World today). When you act in accord with God’s will, the path may be difficult but you will gain strength from the peace.

Peace be to you!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)