“Unshakeable Peace”
Philippians
4:6-7 ESV Do not be anxious about anything, 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 in Christ Jesus.
Anxiety
is the enemy of a peaceful life. People go to great lengths to get rid of
stress: travel ads, promise vacations and will sweep you away from it; gyms
offer to help you “sweat it out”; and popular magazine suggests ways to lessen
it by adjusting schedules or habits. The problem is that no one can adequately
shift circumstances to achieve total freedom from heartache, burdens, or
trouble.
However,
we can have unshakeable peace during anxious times. Jesus said to seek peace in
Him because He has overcome this world (John 16:33). The key is to shift our
focus from the scary problem onto God, who lovingly provides whatever we need
from His limitless resources and power (Ps. 50:10; Rom. 8:11).
Serenity
can’t be manufactured – it’s a gift from our heavenly Father. His Spirit
produces a sense of calm in believers who seek the Lord’s protection against
anxiety (Phil. 4:7). The Greek word translated as guard in today’s passage
literally means “to garrison about.” God wraps hearts and minds in peace,
effectively safeguarding both against all-consuming worry or fear. Notice that
He doesn’t He doesn’t make problems go away – we may still be under pressure or
prone to weep, but we are cushioned against anxiety and encircled by peace as
well.
Today’s verses tell us to pray rather than give in to
anxiety. These words are Paul’s orders for doing battle against the stresses
and troubles of this world. Prayer keeps your mind and heart garrisoned with
peace. Keep trusting in God so that your defenses are strong
and anxiety cannot slip in.
No comments:
Post a Comment