INTRODUCTION:  In the 2008 movie, “Gran Torino” Clint Eastwood plays Walt, a hard-nosed retired autoworker who is at odds with a local gang in his aging neighborhood.  One night he has a potentially violent confrontation with the gang and pulls out his old rifle from the Korean War to scare off his attackers.  The next morning the baby-faced Catholic priest from Walt’s church stops by his house and asks Walt “Why didn’t you call the police?”  Walt replies, “Well you know, I prayed for them to come but nobody answered.” 

Sometimes it just seems like prayer doesn’t get a lot of respect, especially PEACE through prayer.  But whether Hollywood admits it or not, according to the Bible, prayer is the path to peace…especially INNER peace. 

I am in a sermon series based upon Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  I’ve entitled the series “God’s Spiritual Stimulus Plan” as we’re focusing on the provisions God has made to keep our spirits strong, even if our circumstances are challenging or painful. 

Last week we talked about God’s provision of “peace through people”, more specifically, through our brothers and sisters in the church.  We talked about what we can do to preserve the peace that we enjoy in the church. 

Today I want us to think about the inner peace that is uniquely available to the Christian through the practice of prayer.  Let’s see three aspects of peace through prayer.