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. . . You will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:7
The peace of God comes from the God of peace. In the fourth chapter of Philippians, Paul tells us how to walk in continual, perfect peace. First, he pleads with us to reconcile our relationships to others. He addressed a division in the Philippian church, saying, “And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement” (v. 2). Strained, divisive relationships will always block the peace of God. Next, Paul says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (v. 6). If you make every concern a matter of prayer, God’s peace will flood your heart and mind, even when your understanding is crying, Worry! Finally, Paul challenges us to change our ways of daily meditation. Instead of thinking untrue, immoral, base, corrupt, and ugly thoughts from the enemy, he tells us to “fix [our] thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (v. 8). We must fill our minds with thoughts that are consistent with the heaven where we will one day live. Such thoughts will calm our hearts and bring the presence of the God of peace back into our lives. Then the peace of God will be ours until we see the God of peace face-to-face.
Suggested Reading:
Jeremiah 1:1-2:30
Philippians 4:1-23
Psalm 75:1-10
Proverbs 24:17-20