Peace

 Philippians 4:7 ESV 

 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
 

This verse gives some helpful context to the previous one. The previous one basically says 'dont worry; pray!' This verse tells us why?

We don't combat anxiety with prayer so we can pay ourselves on our backs. We do so in anticipation of this promise here. God doesn't give us peace only when we pray 24/7 and reach 0% anxiety.

I feel like there's a hint of danger in this verse. If God's peace needs to guard us, then we have an enemy who is seeking to steal our hearts and minds. The devil can't have our souls who are in Christ, but he will seek to steal our peacefulness in the Lord.

If we trust in Jesus, we're at peace with God, whether we feel like it or not. Yet God wants us to feel at peace in the midst of the devil's onslaughts. We can be with God like a kid hiding behind his dad from the school bully!

'Abba, Father in heaven, please guard our hearts and minds with your transcendent peace. In our Saviour's name, amen'.

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