6 Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
8 Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have
learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And
the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:6-8).
Anxiety is often the human response to stress. Depression,
which seems to be epidemic in our nation, brings confusion, anxiety or worry.
We worry about tomorrow, our riches, friends and family, work and what others
think about us. So what does God have to say about this?
Paul’s Philippians has a formula that requires us to be seeking
God not the world in our discomfort. He tells us to seek Him in prayer, bringing
petitions or intercessions of all kinds to him. This is speaking to God. “Draw
near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Then he says “with
thanksgiving.” This is a key to
prayer and life. “But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalms
22:3). Praises and thanksgiving to God are synonyms. Thanksgiving brings God
near and encompasses us as we praise Him. This admonition is telling us that we
are to give thanks in all things as 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tells us. This is very
hard, giving thanks for trials and tribulations. James, Jesus’ brother, said “consider
it pure joy when you come into trials of all kinds” (James 1:2). This
is one of the most difficult verses in Scripture. We don’t feel joyful in
trouble. God is saying, be joyful in the knowledge that I am always with you,
that is the key.
What happens when we seek God like this? The “peace of God”
that is beyond, transcends our understanding will guard our heart and mind in
Christ Jesus. What a promise! His peace is something beyond us, yet it is what
we need indeed.
Paul goes on to speak of how to put this promise into
practice. Exactly, practice it. In other words, put into practice the character
of God. Think about all that is noble, right, pure, admirable, lovely,
excellent and praiseworthy. Those are descriptions of God. Speak, meditate on
and live out these traits and the “God of Peace” will be with you. God will be
right here with us.
So we have the peace of God and the God of peace. But, do you
have peace with God? That is the first
and most important question to complete the other two. We have not been at
peace with God ever since our original sin as humans. We as a disobedient race,
which have chose our own way. This separated us from the Holy One, God. There is
nothing we can do to bridge this gap. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God” (Romans 3:23). But while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
on the cross. This was the requirement to make a way back to God. “For
God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only son, that whosoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
You may have heard this often quoted verse. Later the Apostle says, “Now
this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3 NIV). This is the plan of God.
Yet it is our sin that separates us from Him. It is the cross that bridges the
gap through His life, death and resurrection. It is by faith we receive Him. “By
grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast” (Ephesians
2:8,9). When we receive Christ into our hearts by faith we are born again. We receive Him by personal invitation as He
stands at the door and knocks that we might open it and let Him in (Revelation
3:20). Receive Him now and know the peace that transcends our understanding
with the God of peace. This is having peace with God-eternal life. Pray now!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.