Think on the Whatever Things

Paul delivers a one-two punch for peace in Philippians 4. And maybe that’s a really bad analogy when you’re talking about peace and punching something. But stick with me for a minute, and it’ll make sense. The first punch for peace appears in verse 4-7. But what leads to this peace?

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 4:7 NLT

At this point in time in our world, life is filled with anxiety. But what does the apostle tell us to do? To bring your prayers and petitions with thanksgiving to God (Philippians 4:6). The result of those prayers and petitions? You’ll experience God’s peace which will exceed anything you can understand, AND His peace will guard your hearts and minds.

This peace exceeds anything we can understand, surpasses all comprehension, and transcends all understanding. You may not be able to understand it completely, but it is yours, because of what Christ has done on the cross for you.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20 NIV).

Think on these whatever things, and the peace of God will be with you.

The second punch for peace is in verses 8-9: “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. 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” (NLT).

Rather than thinking on the mundane or common things of life, think on these whatever things, and the peace of God will be with you.

On one hand, you have petitions and prayers that take out the bad stuff in your life and fill it with peace. On the other hand, you meditate on these good things, and you have God’s peace.

Today’s One Thing

• Do you want to experience God’s peace? Then bring your prayers and petitions to God, and have your anxiety, your fear, your worry, your WHATEVER, overwhelmed by the peace of God.
• Do you want to have God’s peace? Then meditate upon Who He is, meditate upon His character and meditate on His works, because all these excellencies, you won’t find them any more excellent than when you make them all about the LORD.

Go Deeper

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