Phil. 4:6-7: "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 your minds in Christ Jesus."
Peace.
Rest.
Stillness.
What a seemingly elusive concept amidst the ongoing treadmill of events and circumstances in daily life. And perhaps even more elusive is peace of mind and soul, effecting every aspect of our outlook, our perceptions, our reactions...the depths of our very being.
These 2 oft-quoted, oft-preached, but perhaps little-practiced verses contain the key to the prison of a tortured heart.
The God of peace fought for peace; it is part of His very character and nature. As such, He is the only source, the Ultimate source, of peace. He is the Giver of Peace. And that peace, attained by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, is a powerful warrior.
Philippians tells us that it guards the heart. The heart is kept with all diligence under the protectice covering of the guardian Peace. The emotions and dreams are guarded by peace. And not only the heart, but the mind is also kept carefully by Peace. The thoughts and turmoils of the mind are thwarted by the warrior of Peace. It zealously and jealously protects against unworthy thoughts of God that cause worry or doubt. It dispels fear and disarms struggle and frustration.
Anxious, worried, fretting, about no thing. Praying, Supplicating, Giving Thanks in every thing. Full confidence in the All-Sufficiency and Sovereignty of God. No matter the pain, no matter the struggle, no matter the hurt. And God's peace, which surpasses human understanding in its depth and entirety, will be a warrior to guard and protect and shield.
Peace.
Rest.
Rest.
Stillness.
What a seemingly elusive concept amidst the ongoing treadmill of events and circumstances in daily life. And perhaps even more elusive is peace of mind and soul, effecting every aspect of our outlook, our perceptions, our reactions...the depths of our very being.
These 2 oft-quoted, oft-preached, but perhaps little-practiced verses contain the key to the prison of a tortured heart.
The God of peace fought for peace; it is part of His very character and nature. As such, He is the only source, the Ultimate source, of peace. He is the Giver of Peace. And that peace, attained by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, is a powerful warrior.
Philippians tells us that it guards the heart. The heart is kept with all diligence under the protectice covering of the guardian Peace. The emotions and dreams are guarded by peace. And not only the heart, but the mind is also kept carefully by Peace. The thoughts and turmoils of the mind are thwarted by the warrior of Peace. It zealously and jealously protects against unworthy thoughts of God that cause worry or doubt. It dispels fear and disarms struggle and frustration.
Anxious, worried, fretting, about no thing. Praying, Supplicating, Giving Thanks in every thing. Full confidence in the All-Sufficiency and Sovereignty of God. No matter the pain, no matter the struggle, no matter the hurt. And God's peace, which surpasses human understanding in its depth and entirety, will be a warrior to guard and protect and shield.
Peace.
Rest.
Stillness.
Is. 30:15: "In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Ps. 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."
