Philippians 4:6-9 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Certainly considering the peace of God as these verses command us how to live and think and receive can be a very full Sunday morning message. Even this subject can be a series of teachings. However the effort here will be made to give a concise considering.
“Do not be anxious…” Do not be worried. Don’t let focus be distracted. Do not be troubled with cares and practical matter (Matthew 6:25-34). Be carefree, letting nothing (Absolutely nothing!) be troublesome or worrisome. Don’t take it upon yourself to work out your best interests. This is not saying not to work at where and what God has us to work at. It is saying that knowing that when one is doing what God has called them to do, don’t worry about whether and how much your work will be blessed or acknowledged. That is God’s job, not our job. Trust God, not oneself.
“…about anything…” What should we not worry about? The meaning being expressed is that we are to worry about nobody, no one and nothing. If we are doing the work that God has called us to do there is nobody, no one and nothing that can stop it or us (Job 42:2). Challenge or attempt to stop or obstruct, yes, but nothing can stand against it. The Sovereign will of God is indefatigable and undefeatable (Isaiah 46:10). And so are we when we are within it. Success of what God has set us to do, is not up to us. Success of the matter is up to God. Trust God, not oneself.
“…but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Do we trust God (Hebrews 11:6)? Do we believe that though many things are impossible for us, nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26)? Isn’t the Word here telling us to pray about everything? Everything is everything. One might say then “That would mean I would be praying all day long.” Exactly! The Almighty God who is the Creator of everything wants to talk to little old us (1 Thessalonians 5-16-18). He cares for us all (1 Peter 5:7). Let’s talk to God and believe that He hears and that He cares. Let God be God and let us be us (His servants). God is in control, not us. Trust God, not oneself.
“And the peace of God…” Does God worry that something that He didn’t know about will happen? Is God worried that something stronger than Him will surface and defeat His plans? No, of course not! He is never moved out of peace because He knows all (1 John 3:20) and is all-powerful (Revelation 19:6) and therefore all His plans will succeed. God has confidence that does not come from pride, but from the sure knowledge of who He is. Man’s peace is tenuous and based on circumstances and the controllability of them. God does not have these concerns. He is in complete control. So His peace never wavers. Do we know that God is in complete control? Is our peace based on anything other than God? It should be based even ourselves. If our peace is based only in the sure knowledge that God is in control, that He is good and that He loves us, then peace is ours. Peace based on anything other than God is the type of peace that the world has. It is here one day and gone the next. The peace of God is knowledge based on the innate qualities of God. Let’s trust in nothing but God, and certainly not in ourselves. Trust God, no oneself.
“…which transcends all understanding…” The Word of God clearly states that the peace of God transcend understanding. It is not based on what we can or cannot understand and in fact it says that we cannot understand it. We trust God. We have trusted God with absolutely everything, not the least of which is our eternal salvation. God never tells us that in this life we will understand everything, stop trying. If God says we can’t understand, then we better believe that we can’t understand it. It means we will have peace when we should be afraid (As the world surmises). It means that we will have peace when it would seem we will not. It means that others will consider us careless or foolish because we should be stressing out, but we are not. Yes, that is partly true, we do “care-less” because our faith and trust is in Jesus. We don’t worry in circumstances that would cause the heart of the unbeliever to fail. We have hope when it seems crazy to have it. Why, because of Jesus. We don’t need to understand everything, it is enough that God does. Trust God, not oneself.
“will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Those who think that they can understand everything and demand that they do, will never have the “peace of God that “transcends all understanding.” They cannot because they will never fully understand so they will always be unsettled. Again, God has not called us to understand everything but to have faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6). Now the Word does say that we are to love God with all of our minds (Matthew 22:37), but that is not saying that we will understand everything. There is much to understand and we are to apply ourselves to the Word and receive all understanding that the Holy Spirit will give us. Some things we just won’t understand. Those things, accept and move on. They are not our concern, but they are the concern of God. Leave it there. Then, with all based on the work and person of Jesus, our hearts and minds are at peace in Christ Jesus. Trust God, not oneself.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Something that is true is that we all have many more blessings than troubles. That is absolutely true. Our blessings are innumerable. Let us give credit to God for every blessing in our lives (James 1:17). Having given Him credit for every blessing let us be thankful to Him. Let us be thankful and think about God and how wonderful He is. As we consider those things we float in the ocean of God’s peace that is an expanse whose horizon is endless. Let us also fellowship with people whom we respect in the Lord. Let us follow good examples of Godly people. People who are humble and serve the Lord. People who walk in simple faith, boundless love, and a humility that comes to those who walk with God. Trust God, not oneself. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.