A Guarding Peace

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:7

I enjoy reading historic letters. When I come across old letters from soldiers to their wives, I am struck how they discuss the challenges of sleeping on the ground outside in the middle of fierce fighting. The theme comes again and again; they find peace in thinking about their wives. 

We read Paul’s letter to the Philippians hearing of the mercy of God’s peace guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We are in fierce combat, but not against flesh and blood; rather, against unseen spiritual forces that plague us with chaos. We are tempted to conform to the world, but defend ourselves by “renewing our mind” with the Bible (Romans 12:2). The Bible grips our minds to think of the excellent, pure, and praiseworthy things of God (Philippians 4:8). With the Bible we wage war in our minds destroying arguments and lofty opinions against these excellent things of God (II Corinthians 10:3-5). We find peace thinking about our Lord.

Our minds need God’s protection. We are reminded of His trustworthy promises. Yet, we need God’s peace in Christ to guard our hearts, as well. Our emotions are like warning flares from a ship at battle. We get angry, sad, afraid, or discouraged because of arguments battling in our minds. We don’t passively let our emotions rule us. We wage war against these arguments with God’s Word. Sad? Rejoice in the Lord (vs 4). Bitter? Be gentle toward others because the Lord is at hand (vs5). Stressed, discouraged, afraid? Pray and request from God with thanksgiving (vs 6). And God’s incomprehensible peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, Your Word is light to our dark paths, sweet honey and the delight of our hearts. We ask for peace in the midst of the battles of this life. Guard Your servants’ minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. Ready our feet to carry Your good news, our hands to serve, and our lips to praise You. Be glorified in us. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Self-Control as Fruit

“The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control” (Galatians 5:22 and 23)

Sitting on my porch swing and enjoying the warm, gentle touch of the springtime sunshine and breeze, I watched as a robin meticulously scanned my front yard for worms poking out of the ground. Suddenly, he stopped and noticed me on the swing. He hopped closer until it seemed he was close enough for comfort. We looked at each other for about five minutes before he tilted his head as if to question, then continued his hunt.

I agree with this robin: we humans are fickle creatures when observed closely. We are peaceful one minute and angry the next. We are simultaneously both friend and foe. Christians who have experienced the joy of new life with a new heart in sweet union with Jesus have died with Him and have risen with Him  to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-9). Yet, we are still plagued by our “flesh,” sin which still dwells in us and finds temptation attractive (Romans 7:17-20, 25). We already possess purity of eternal life (Hebrews 10:10), but we have not yet been perfected (Philippians3:12).

We are commanded to “strive to enter the narrow door” of the Kingdom (Luke 13:24). So, we have been gifted with the power of the Holy Spirit to control ourselves, and we bear this spiritual fruit to God’s glory. How? “I strive with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29). We become more Christ-like with Christ’s powerful work being done inside of us. It is His doing. Jesus instructs us His grace to desire Him who is greater than wrong desires settled for on earth (Titus 2:11-12). Like the robin’s scan for worms, we scan our hearts with the Bible and the Spirit for wrong desires.

Jesus instructs us, not as a killjoy, but that our joy may be full (John 15:11). We put those wrong desires to death (Colossians 3:5) by putting on the beauty of Christ-likeness we already possess but strive to obtain when Christ returns and perfects the work He begun (Colossians 3:12).

Holy God in heaven, we thank You for not treating us as our sins deserve. That in Christ alone we enjoy Your boundless grace. Lord, instruct our hearts in Your grace to strive to be like Christ, controlling our desires to enjoy You more than the plagues of our flesh and treasuring Jesus above all that Your joy may be in us and our joy increase daily until that day You complete the work You have begun. In Christ’s Name. Amen.