Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 8
Tuesday


UNCERTAIN
TIMES

READ:
Philippians 4:6-9
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The peace of God,
which surpasses all
understanding, will
guard your hearts and
minds through Christ
Jesus. __Philippians 4:7
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During a major economic down-turn several years ago, many people lost their jobs. Sadly, my brother-in-law was one of them. Writing to me about their situation, my sister shared that although there were uncertainties, they had peace because they knew that God would care for them.

Believers in Jesus can have peace in the midst of uncertainties because we have the assurance that our heavenly Father loves His children and cares for our needs (Matt 6:25-34). We can bring all our concerns to Him with an attitude of thankfulness, trusting Him to meet our needs and give us peace (Phil. 4:6-7).

"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding," writes the apostle Paul, "will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (v.7). To say the peace of God surpasses all understanding reveals that we can't explain it, but we can experience it as He guards our hearts and minds.

Our peace comes from the confidence that the Lord loves us and He is in control. He alone provides the comfort that settles our nerves, fills our minds with hope, and allows us to relax even in the midst of changes and challenges.
__Poh Fang Chia

``````````````````````Heavenly Father, You are all-wise, all-powerful, and`````````````````````````
````````````````````all-loving. In the midst of uncertainties, help me to rest```````````````````````
`````````````````````in the certainty of who You are. I thank You that Your````````````````````````
```````````````````````peace will guard my heart. I place my trust in You.````````````````````````
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You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Isiah 26:3

*****************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 4:6-9***************************************

6 Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to
God; 7 and the peace of
God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything
praiseworthy__meditate on
these things. 9 The things
which you learned and
received and heard and saw
in me, these do, and the God
of peace will be with you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus taught us not to worry, because we can entrust our needs
to our heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us deeply
(Matt. 6:25-34; 7:9-11; 1 Peter 5:7). In Philippians 4, Paul follows
Jesus' example and encourages us to replace our anxieties with
expectant trust and grateful prayer. The "peace of God" (v.7) is not
a psychological state of mind but an inner calm or tranquility. This
peace comes from a confident trust in God who answers prayers
(v.6), from a disciplined spiritual perspective, and from a deliberate
practice of Christian virtues (v.9). Those who entrust themselves to
God will not only experience the peace of God (v.7), but "the God
of peace" Himself will be with them(v.9).