A surpassing peace

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Several people I’ve spoken to over the last month are all chasing after the same thing…Peace! The bible does tell us to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14) BUT the problem is we are seeking it in all the wrong places. In him, her, that drink, those cigarettes, those drugs or pills, that group of people, that club, food…the list goes on. We will only find pseudo-peace there beautiful people! Pseudo meaning, false peace. That means when it fades, we are back to square one. We need to seek peace by seeking God.

Although at times it is far easier said than done, it’s not impossible if we focus our eyes on the God who promises to give us surpassing peace. Matter of fact the bible says if we come to him he will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding, meaning this peace will excel above and beyond what we can even imagine, comprehend, or explain.

This struggle for peace is never ending for me as well! A couple of weeks ago I thought I was about to lose my mind! I prayed before I walked into a certain location asking God to help me to just feel better. I knew I needed him but wasn’t really able to pinpoint what it was. My request was just for him to “make it better”. I was anxious, feeling convicted, I was sad, and angry all at once and the poor person that was in my presence was about to catch all of it. All of a sudden this inexplicable calm came over me. I guess I can explain it as an empty feeling. Like all the things that were going on with me just disappeared.

In this moment the second portion of Phil 4:7 began to make sense to me. It says this peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ. When I wanted to recall what had upset me, what was causing me to be anxious, what was making me sad and convicted, I couldn’t. The thoughts wouldn’t come. And for some reason I was trying to force them back as if I wanted to feel those ways. The pain that my heart was feeling was eradicated. Even when I tried to pull the thoughts back God blocked it. Not only did he take away all the yuck I was feeling but he guarded me from going back to what was causing me to feel that way.

When I got in my car I just said, “thanks God, thanks for freeing me from myself”. God has asked us not to worry about anything and earnestly make our requests known to him (v6). We might not immediately feel the total relief of the prayer but believe that once you hand it over he is already working. Then it’s time to do your part. Are you going to invite the thoughts and people that are causing you to lose your peace back in? Are you going to basically fight God so that they remain? Don’t allow chaos to be your equilibrium! Go to God for a total peace that is “of” him and will exceed anything you can understand or explain. And let him guard your heart and mind!

You can have peace! Receive it and keep it!

Don’t forget:

1.     Don’t worry about anything
2.     Prayer and supplication (plea, earnest petition) still works even if you don’t totally feel it immediately
3.     Let your requests be made known to God: Be real, be open, get it all out
4.     Then receive his peace
5.     In order to keep the peace please refer to Philippians 4:8 ;)

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 8 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.