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Peace ~ Hillsong Young & Free
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:7 NKJV
“My Father in Heaven disciplines me by teaching me His Word. This gives me the power to keep myself calm in the face of temptation and of adversity.”
These words, based on Psalm 94:12-13, are from a list of confessions that a friend shared with Brad and I around 2007. After diving deeper into Philippians 4, I have a better appreciation of the truth found in those words: He disciplines me by teaching me His Word…
A month ago, I told God that I was tired, emotional, and in need of peace. That’s when Holy Spirit reminded me of Philippians 4:4-7. In the past month, He’s told me to:
1. Rejoice always – it produces joy.
2. Let your gentleness shine – it draws others to Jesus.
3. Be anxious for nothing – leave room for God to move.
And finally: Walk in God’s peace – He’s your guard.
Philippians 4:7 states that God’s peace guards our hearts and minds. Our hearts and minds are the seat (core or center) of our will, emotions, thoughts, and actions. We’re told to guard our thoughts and hearts throughout the Bible, because “… as he thinks in his heart, so is he…,” and “… out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” (Proverbs 23:7; Luke 6:45 NKJV). However, we are not expected to guard them in our own strength, but by the Lord’s peace.
We can trust God’s peace—which goes beyond all understanding in degree, capacity, and amount—because of Who gives it. He is not a lifeless, nameless God. God’s name, here, is Theos, which means “the guardian God of anyone, blessing and protecting him,” (blueletterbible.org).
Does it change your view of God to know that He is your guard? I was immediately encouraged and in awe. That revelation was like another stroke on the canvas, like another detail of my picture of God was filled in with color.
The promise in Philippians 4:7 helps us to walk in God’s peace, because He’s our guard. In a world where chaos abounds for all, peace does much more abound for those who are in Christ Jesus.
©Heather Potts 2023
