Peace that transcends understanding!!
This study on Phillipians over the past few weeks have taught us to love more, to be more joyful, to place our trust in God, to live as citizens our heaven, to be humble in our citizenship, to honour God and to develop a mindset like God’s.
This book has been very challenging and full of incredible wisdom. I hope that you have enjoyed studying it with us.
Looking into chapter four of Phillipians we find another great truth that will help us in our walk with God. Peace!
Phillipians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is the peace of God that will help us to guard our hearts. In other words God’s peace protects you. How? Verse eight gives us the answer:
8 Finally, brothers, 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.
Peace comes from focusing on worthy, lovely, commendable and excellent things. Focusing on the things of God brings peace. We guard our hearts by focusing on Godly things which bring a peace to us.
Think about this a bit more. The reason peace protects us is because it “transcends understanding!” When we try to understand something we are trying to achieve something. We do it in our own strength. Peace in our hearts comes from trusting in God regardless of our understanding of current circumstances.
It’s easy to trust in God when you focus on Him. He is great, powerful, mighty, graceful, loving, peaceful, trustworthy, reliable, constant and merciful. When you focus on Him you begin to trust Him as He reveals Himself to you. Our need to understand is superseded by our love for Him and our trust in Him. Peace comes from a decision to trust God and not trust in ourselves.
Trusting in our own ability often brings anxiety and doubt. Trusting in God brings peace because He has proved Himself undoubtedly trustworthy.
