Peace of God

"And the peace of God which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," Philippians 4:7

This verse 7 of Philippians 4 is connected to the previous verse.  "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God."  When you follow this wisdom, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind from the effects of anxiety. 

The word anxious is the same Greek word for worry, "merimao" meaning divided into parts, a divided mind or heart. Anxiety and worry rob us of being aware of God's Presence. 

Anxiety leaves you unguarded against attack. Anxiety tells your soul that you cannot trust God. 

Anxiety makes reasonable people unreasonable. When your soul is anxious and worried, you want relief N-O-W and panic sets in.  Thinking clearly is a foreign concept.

Anxiety presumes inappropriate authority. All anxiety and worry come from a loss of control. What if's? creep into your thought life leaving you paralyzed. 

Anxiety chokes the Word. It will keep you from connecting with God and from getting into His Word. 

Anxiety depletes your energy. God will NEVER give you strength to worry. Our bodies were not designed to carry anxiety and worry. 

Anxiety divides your focus. It divides the mind and heart, moving in many different directions.

The account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 speaks to this. 
"Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'

The Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her," Luke 10:40-42. 

Martha was spinning around going nowhere. I can relate.  I have been there, done that! :)  But because she was distracted, she missed the Divine moment that was right in front of her.

Make a commitment to NO MORE DIVIDED MIND! When anxiety or worry attempt to take your mind hostage, pray Philippians 4:7 over your mind. 

Prayer sets a guard or watch over your mind.  Prayer restores reason. Prayer claims the truth of God's Word over your mind. Prayer taps into God's supernatural energy. Prayer focuses the mind on things above. 

Pray:
Lord Jesus, let Your peace stand guard at the door of my heart,  protecting me from fear, anxiety, and confusion.  Let it shield my mind from lies and unrest and anchor me in the truth of Your love. Teach me to breathe deeply in Your presence, to release control, and to trust Your goodness in every detail. May Your Spirit quiet the noise within me and remind me that I am safe, seen, and secure in You. I choose to dwell in the stillness of Your care. Amen.