Peace That Stands Guard

Philippians 4:4-7 · open the passage to read it whole

Paul writes about anxiety in the middle of instructions about rejoicing, gentleness and the nearness of the Lord. He directs anxiety somewhere: prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, with the requests made known to God. The result he states is a peace that guards heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

• What Scripture says

  Rejoice is commanded twice, and the nearness of the Lord is stated before anxiety is mentioned.

  Philippians 4:4-5

• What Scripture says

  The instruction is not to hold the request but to make it known, in everything, with thanksgiving.

  Philippians 4:6

• What Scripture says

  The peace is said to surpass understanding and to guard, a word used of a garrison keeping watch.

  Philippians 4:7

• What Scripture says

  Paul writes from imprisonment, and the letter states his chains without saying how the case ended.

  Philippians 1:13

• Philippians 4:8

  Where Paul sends the mind once the request has been handed over.

• Philippians 4:11-13

  What he says he learned, and where the strength came from.

• 1 Peter 5:7

  The same instruction, with the reason attached.

• Matthew 6:31-33

  Christ addressing anxiety about ordinary needs.

Each question opens into Scripture rather than into an answer.

• What does Paul tell the Philippians to do with anxiety, and what does he promise will follow?›

  Look in Scripture

  • Philippians 4:6-7

  Write the instruction of verse 6 in your own words, then write the promise of verse 7. Note which one you are asked to do and which one God does.

• What place does thanksgiving have in this instruction?›

  Look in Scripture

  • Philippians 4:6
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

  Look at where thanksgiving sits in the sentence, then compare Paul's instruction to another church about the same practice.

• The Lord is at hand.

  Philippians 4:5

• Requests are to be made known to God in everything.

  Philippians 4:6

• The peace of God guards heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

  Philippians 4:7

Father, here is the request I keep rehearsing to myself. I hand it over with thanks instead of with panic. Guard my mind where I cannot guard it. Amen.

Write down the request you have been repeating in your own head, and pray it once to God in the words of Philippians 4:6 instead.