Joy. Gentle. Near. Ask. Peace.
Last Tuesday we began resting in the comfort of Philippians 4. We have thought about:
- Joy repeated again and again,
- Being gentle the way we want others to be gentle with us,
- The promise that God is near, and
- God’s invitation for us to ask Him and plead with Him for what we need.
Today we come to another of the precious promises of Philippians 4. Verse 6 tells you and me not to be anxious about anything. It invites us to pray and plead. If you do (and if I do):
. . . the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6
Anxiety is the obvious human response to a myriad of stressful and painful life situations, situations we experience ourselves and situations that people we love experience. Anxiety we understand.
What is much more difficult to understand is how we can have peace in these situations. God tells us how.
Pray to and plead with the only One Who can help us and give us peace. Shower thanksgiving on Him while we pray and plead. The result is a peace that surpasses what we can understand, a peace that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
What a precious gift from the Giver of life.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body;
and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
For several days, I have shared thoughts from the following passage in Philippians 4. It is a passage I read every day. The encouragement and the promises are very sweet. Here it is, if you would like to read all six verses.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9