Protected by Peace

Written by Gail Rodgers

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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”. (Philippians 4:4-6)

I love the cyclical effect of God’s word in our lives! As we respond to His word, He responds to us. As He draws us to Himself, our hearts are drawn to respond back to Him. It’s a beautiful cycle of God’s hand in our lives as we choose to bring Him into focus as we walk through our day.

Here is one of my favorite examples of this:

God tells me, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

In other words I need to tend to my heart and be the gatekeeper of it … being careful what attitudes I nurse, what thoughts I allow to make paths in my mind, what images and words I allow media entertainment to deposit there. The essence of my life springs from my heart. When my heart is at peace, peace springs from within me. When my heart is flooded with anxiety, anger, or edginess that is what will spring forth. My entire life is affected by the wellspring of my heart.

Then God tells me exactly how HE will guard my heart and mind and help me tend to the wellspring of my heart.

Lord God,

Today I choose to guard my heart by turning my focus to You and rejoicing in all You are to me. Today I choose to be aware of Your constant presence with me and to allow Your presence to impact my responses with a gentleness of spirit. Today I choose to see my worries as a call to prayer and to present each one to You. Today I choose to live thankfully knowing You are able to handle all that concerns me today. Today, as I choose to guard my heart, I praise You that Your peace, which is beyond understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. What a beautiful circle. Thank you Lord Jesus, for Your amazing grace and peace. I pray this in Your powerful name, Amen.

Question: Do you have anxieties and cares that are overwhelming you? Seek the Lord today and see how He can bring you peace.

Tags: attitude, devo, Devotional, guard your heart, Philippians 4:4-6

6 Responses to “Protected by Peace”

Loading comments
Doris says:

February 13, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Thanks to each of you that stopped by to read this devotional and took time to leave us your comments! We are always encouraged when a devotional that has been written months in advance of when it is published on the site, speaks to the heart of our readers.

Shaneika, trusting in God and focusing on God and putting your trust in Him is the best thing you can do in the face of disappointment. When we focus on what we don’t have or can’t change, we become bitter and angry people.

Instead we are to do what these verses do, to let our requests be made known to God and then give thanks for what He is going to do and trust that He will do it!
kanj says:

February 11, 2012 at 7:57 pm

I needed the comfort of this devotional. It was like it was written for me. God bless
Dennis says:

January 11, 2012 at 12:42 pm

Meditating on this passage recently I noticed that these instructions to rejoice come in the context of how to deal with conflict (Phil 4:2-9). The problem between Euodia and Syntyche becomes a great opportunity for us to learn the antidotes for conflict in our own lives. These were probably not new believers, but missionaries with Paul. He calls them coworkers who shared his struggle in the cause of the gospel.
4-Joy, when a primary characteristic of our lives, knocks out most conflict.
5-Be known for your forbearing spirit, not impatience.
5-When the Lord is near, and he always is, it drives out fear and makes our disagreements seem small.
6-Fear and anxiety drive the emotions behind a lot of conflict.
7-God’s peace is supernatural. Your mind and heart are at risk if anxiety and conflict take root in your life.
8-Guarded by God’s peace we still must choose our focus: Do you want to dwell on other’s faults and problems? “If there is” – Can’t you find something to praise?
9-Isn’t this what I taught and did? If you want God and His peace with you, then follow your mentor. (If you see anything praiseworthy or excellent that is ;)
Gail Phillips says:

January 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm

AS always, Gail writes an excellent article. I never hit the delete button when I read that Gail Rodgers has authored the devotional for the day.
Shaneika Mohammed says:

January 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm

Today I am going through so much in my life by making a wrong turn on the journey God has prepared for me. I am now with so much on my mind and in my heart. It has left me depressed at times and I made a vow that I will not focus on those things that I can not change but rather that I would but my trust in God. This word today was exactly what I needed and gave me something great to focus on.
Frances Young says:

January 10, 2012 at 7:37 am

Thank you for the devotional today. This is just what I needed to hear, and God telling me over again, to listen to Him. This confirms my heart!
Blessings!