Today’s scripture has been extremely instrumental in my Christian walk, though it is one that I am only recently beginning to understand and utilize. It is well known among believers and unbelievers alike. But despite the fact that it is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, it appears to be one of the least understood and least applied scriptures in the Biblical Canon.
Why is that? Well, I think that we human beings, believers and non-believers, have a tendency to read this scripture at surface level, obtain an overall idea of what we “think” that it says, and then we promptly determine that we “get it” and since we pray to God all of the time, we are already applying the scripture. Check of completion for us. Gold stars all around.
But, as is the case with most of Scripture, a surface level view and understanding is not good enough. God intends for us to go deeper and to live deeper than that. Hence, the profession of Jesus that He “came so that we could have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10 NIV. In order to obtain and experience that life to the full, we must look within the text. And in the case of today’s scripture, looking within the text includes reviewing some definitions.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1. Anxious* – full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous.
God reminds us time and time again in His Word to not be anxious or worry (which is a not so distant cousin of fear), because He has overcome this world (John 16:33) and each day brings with it enough troubles (Matthew 6:34).
2. Every* – all possible; the greatest possible degree of.
The Word of God is full of instances in which He references the fullness and completeness of something, be it the extent to which He will do something or the quantity of something that we will receive. And when He says “all,” as is the case when He promises to meet all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), He means every last one.
3. Prayer* – a devout petition to God; a spiritual communion with God, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
Praying to God is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, ways that we communicate with God. It is through prayer that we share with Him what is on our hearts, not because He does not already know (He knows all – 1 John 3:20), but because when we share our concerns with Him we are activating our faith and inviting Him into the situation to exact His perfect will.
4. Petition* – a formally drawn request that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit; a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer.
The idea of petitioning – soliciting a favor or a right – is an idea that is well-presented in God’s Word, whether expressed through the act of a servant submitting a request to his master, a citizen of a kingdom requesting something from a king, or even a Canaanite woman asking Jesus to heal her daughter who was demon-possessed (Matthew 15:21-28). No matter what it concerns, how big or out of reach it appears to be, or how helpless and inept we may feel when we think about our human, finite ability to bring about a desired solution, God wants us to bring everything to Him as a petition, acknowledging and respecting His authority and power.
5. Thanksgiving* – the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
David, perhaps the greatest human king of Israel, is also one of the most notable Bible figures when it comes to living a life of praise and gratitude to God. In fact, many of his psalms contain phrases such as “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you,” (Psalm 35:18) “I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you,” (Psalm 56:12) and “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy” (Psalm 28:6). David recognizes that God is worthy of our praise and that our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude toward God because of Who He is and all that He does for us. I also believe that David realized that approaching God with an attitude of gratitude serves to allow God the opportunity to touch our hearts and impress upon us the things that are on His heart, effectively steering us to pray effective and fervent prayers that are centered in His love and will.
6. Peace* – cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension; freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity; a state of tranquillity or serenity; a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity; silence; stillness.
An often-quoted concept among followers of Christ is the idea of a peace that surpasses all understanding. And considering the state of the world in this day and age, I imagine that we all would like to have that kind of peace. The reality is that we do. We already have that kind of peace (Philippians 4:7). Jesus has given us the only kind of peace that can completely free us from all strife and trouble, free our mind from annoyances, distractions, anxieties, and obsessions. The kind of peace that engulfs us with tranquility and serenity and allows us to experience the beauty and bliss of the silence and stillness that result when we rest in Him.
7. Transcend* – to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed; to outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree, etc.; surpass; excel.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV is a beautiful example of God’s transcending nature. He “ who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” expresses levels of love, power, strength, and faithfulness to us that rise above, go beyond, overpass, and exceed anything that we have, will, or could experience otherwise. He, and He alone, is above all!
8. Guard* – to keep safe from harm or danger; protect; watch over; to keep under close watch in order to prevent escape, misconduct; to provide or equip with some safeguard or protective appliance, as to prevent loss, injury.
Guarding, especially our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), minds (Philippians 4:7), and steps (Ecclesiastes 5:1), is an action that God repeatedly commands us to do throughout His word, admonishing us to be diligent in our efforts to protect the blessings that we have received from Him. You may or may not have noticed that the very things that God tells us to guard are the primary areas in which the enemy attacks us – he attacks our hearts by presenting us with desires that go against God; he attacks our minds by bombarding our consciousness with lustful, angry, jealous, and prideful thoughts (to name a few); and he attacks our steps by throwing obstacles in our way so as to steer us onto the evil paths that he wants us to take and away from the righteous paths on which God places us. The enemy is conniving and dangerous (1 Peter 5:8), but he is no match for our God (Ephesians 1:22).
So, when the battles of life begin to rage, remember today’s scripture and do not allow yourself to be full of mental distress or uneasiness regarding anything. Instead, at all times and in all things, commune with God respectfully and with an attitude of gratefulness, soliciting the favors, rights, and mercy that He promises to give you as a daughter or son of the Most High God. Remember that His perfect tranquility, serenity, and freedom from all strife, annoyances, distractions, and anxieties, which are beyond anything that you can ever imagine, will keep safe from harm and danger, watch over, and protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Be blessed. #sanguinemango
*Definitions taken from Dictionary.com
Sanguine Mango 