And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 KJV
The Context:
Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, was concluding his letter, writing the church of the importance of allowing God work. Maybe it was a church concerned about the things going on around it, and there was some anxiety. It is human to worry about the unknown, which is why God would have me look outside me for help. By and of myself, I cannot do much good, but when I look to God for help, I seek the help of One who is able to calm every storm, no matter how long it has raged or how terrible it may be. Only God can do the impossible. Can I dare place my life in His hands, so He can do what He has already promised to do?
The Charge:
Today's extract speaks of the peace of God. If I look at the verse just before, it speaks about the importance of putting it all in the hands of the Almighty God. If I will access the peace, I have to surrender to the peace. I cannot access that which I have not subscribed to. Yes, God created us all, but just like any Father, there is a special grace upon those who have lovingly surrendered their lives to Him. It is called the peace of God, because it is possible that the world may sell off its own version to you as well: the type that power, position, privilege, possession and politics seek to establish. Unfortunately, as life has shown time and time again, that which the world sells does not last. It will give you that which it has, and then take the eternal away from you. Only God can settle you down here on earth, and also secure you for all eternity.
The Conclusion:
It is peace the world cannot understand because it cannot give, duplicate or fake it. It is peace that secures my heart, because it is supplied by the Creator of the heart. When the heart is tempted to worry, it needs to be reminded that the God who rules and reigns over all is able to change the story, and even if the story does not change, can keep the heart from worry. This is the tough part: trusting God does not always remove the problem, but what you get is a calm heart that looks nothing like what it is going through. The key here is total surrender: you can't lay claim to peace, if you have not totally surrendered. With surrender comes possession. Does God rule my heart? If yes, I have peace, God's version. God's time of favour is here.
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