We all want to be happy and at peace. More than mere surface happiness, though, God wants to fill us deeply in His joy! So He asks us to bring our requests to Him, and trust in Him so we won’t be filled with anxiety, stress and confusion. He has a real peace for us to abide in.
RELEVANCE
Paul saw that people didn’t have clear understanding that God has a real peace to instill that is beyond rational reasoning. It surpasses natural understanding. He tried to explain that understanding comes as we change our thoughts and meditate on God’s truth over falsehoods, things of virtue over things that corrupt our mind—noble things in God’s eyes.
He, therefore, encouraged people to allow the Holy Spirit to bring comfort and a new focus. He exhorts all believers to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy– meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:6-9).
It’s hard to switch the gears of our thoughts. But if you will try “fasting” or abstaining from specific disturbing and anxious thoughts for 21 days, you might find the Holy Spirit replacing bad thoughts with comforting ones– and through such comfort, God’s peace!
REFLECT AND RELATE
What thoughts occupy your mind?
Do you spend time worrying about things you can’t control or change?
Do you fill your mind with vain imaginations?
Do you entertain gossip or the pop-culture of the day or things of little eternal value?
REFERENCES
Luke 12:22-34