Philippians 4:7 (ESV)
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The peace of God is one of the many blessings God promises
his people who pray.
Occasionally we hear people talk about having “inner
peace,” and we can get the impression that inner peace is a personality trait
that some people who are calm by nature have more than others. Other times,
inner peace is described as something people can develop by following a pattern
of relaxing meditation techniques.
But the kind of peace Paul describes is very different.
It’s not something only a few people can experience; it’s a gift that everyone
can receive. And when Paul says this peace “transcends all understanding,” he
indicates that it is not something we can produce by our own efforts.
Paul is describing the peace that comes from God and that
guards troubled hearts. The word translated as “guard” here is a strong
military term. It refers to the close supervision a Roman soldier would have
over someone entrusted to his care. In fact, in Paul’s day prisoners were often
chained to the Roman guards assigned to watch over them.
The picture in this verse is compelling. Our prayers
connect us directly to God. The best inner peace is the kind that God alone can
provide. If your heart needs that peace, ask God to give it to you. He will
surely do it.
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us your peace. Thank You
for assuring us that we are always protected by the power of your love. In the
Name of Jesus, Amen.
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