Philippians 4:6-9 (KJV)Vs 6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Vs 7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (See vs 8 at the end)
"Be careful for nothing" Why would God's word suggest that, when there is so much in life we have to care about. There is not a person in the world, rich or poor, famous or infamous, who does not have a care. It's like asking us to be in denial, when everything around us seems to be the opposite.
The clue is to be found in the latter part of Vs 6. God is saying that the answer is "fellowship with Him" talking to him (prayer) and thanking Him for His goodness and provision. God already knows what we are going through and what we have need of. But it is in fellowship that we find the strength and direction that we need.
The second key is to be found in Vs 7. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." It's the peace of
God that we all desperately need. Peace is the opposite of turmoil. As long as we live on earth, there will never be perfect peace. We will only see that in the "New Millenium" when Jesus rains supreme.
God is speaking about "internal" peace. It's peace in our heart and mind. It's "peace that passes understanding" It's peace in spite of what is going on. It's beyond understanding. The mind is the biggest enemy that we have to deal with. It's our minds that continually imagine the worst scenarios and unless we allow God's peace to fill our minds, the turmoil around us will overtake us. PEACE NEEDS TO PASS UNDERSTANDING.
It would be great if there was an on / off switch which allowed us to turn the world off for a while, but the reality is we live in an imperfect world. But we have a perfect God living on the inside of us. It is His peace that will make a difference.
It's a daily practice of letting Him rule. God's word commands us in Colossians 3:15 (AMP) "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]."
I love how the amplified bible puts it ... "let peace act as umpire continually". It's a state of mind. Learning how to not to allow turmoil to get the upper hand in our minds. It's the Peter walking on water principle. It's the Lions Den and the fiery furnace principle. Because for every situation we find ourselves in, God has an answer and the provision.
When we let the peace of God act as UMPIRE, it "decides and settles with finality all questions that arise in our minds" Most will say, that is easier said than done. How can my mind be at rest when all around me is not. We take a pain killer to kill pain. So take a positive thought to kill a negative one. I have to bombard my mind with enough of the positive to quell the negative.
Most Christians blame the devil because of the premise ... it's an attack of the devil. But we delude ourselve if we think the devil has so much power that daily he can harass the thoughts of billions of people all over the globe. He is not omnipresent, God is. He is not omnipotent, God is. He is not omnicient, God is. So the answer is to be found in me. It's my negative nature that is trying to become ruler over my life. But I will not allow it to. I will feed my mind and thoughts with God's word and promises. I will fill my mind with the blessing, mercy and grace of God and allow His peace to be the ruler.
God is telling us, the answer it to purposefully direct our thoughts to what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. Don't let your mind dictate how you are going to live and be.
(For more on this subject please read ... "God will keep you in Perfect Peace" )
God bless you richly
Gil Howard-Browne
www.revivaltimes.com
www.podcast.revivaltimes.com
www.encourageme.tv
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