Peace That Passes All Understanding...

Friday:

Philippians 4:2-23

This section of scripture is my favorite in the Bible. ☺ I am going to share a little more personally this morning, so I hope you are not bored by my words. I have had anxiety attacks on and off for the past 6 or 7 years. These attacks are anywhere from mild to extreme. For those of you that don’t know, an anxiety attack can happen at anytime, and isn’t just because you are upset about something. Anxiety attacks can simulate an actual heart attack (I know this from research, AND my own personal experience). I started to see a Christian counselor after the first 6 months (seeking Christian counsel was BY FAR one of the best things I have ever done). The very first thing this counselor told me – actually was my ‘homework’ for my first session – to memorize the following scripture: 

Philippians 4:6-7 “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

Over the next couple of years, I cannot begin to tell you how much that one little passage came to mind Daily, weekly, and now about once a month. I wrote it on my heart, and what I didn’t understand completely at the time, I did anyway, and God has used it over and over and over. While the anxiety/panic attacks were a medical issue, they were still an emotional one. Emotionally and physically I could not control those attacks. However, I could come to God and pray and ask Him to harness those emotions, and He would remind me in MANY ways how much I am loved, and how much HE will provide! After studying that scripture I began to stay in His Word every day, and grow more and more, and through the daily time with God, I began to be drawn closer to Him. I was able to stop taking all the medication I had been put on for the anxiety, and then able to drop a few pounds that I had put on from the medicine. Nick and I both were sent back to work (on the same day!! – just about at the same moment!). 

So, when I read this morning, I can’t help but give praise to God for all He has done for me in my life. For all He has supplied for me. I was at the bottom – emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. And I was able to come out because of the strength of Christ – Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – not on my own strength – but through HIS strength. Thinking about the money that wasn’t in the bank, the jobs we didn’t have, the weight that I couldn’t shed because of the medicine, or how my physical body was out of control, my heart racing out of my chest – I knew thinking about those things was not a help to me. Look at verse 8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – 

These are promises that we have from the ALMIGHTY GOD! These are promises that we have from the Creator of the Universe! We are promised that we WILL have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” – I can think about peace and understand it, but the peace of God passes all of my understanding – it is a peace far beyond what we can even think about. A peace that can control anxiety attacks. A peace that can give us comfort when we are hurting. 

Dear Lord,
I thank you this morning for the peace you have given us. Please bless us today, and help us to be honoring to you.
Amen.