Peace is a choice

As we end the first month of our pursuit of peace, we look a few key verses of instruction about peace. The verses in Philippians 4 are famous for the admonishment to not be anxious, but pray and give thanks to God, then the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. I find that much of the focus given these verses is upon the first part and not the second.

Control our Thoughts and Actions

Paul commands us here to control our actions, specifically to maintain the control of our own concern and direct ourselves to prayer. Then he continues in verse 8 to direct us to focus our thoughts. By these commands, the implication is that they are under our control. Control means discipline. This discipline is required of us to control our prayer lives and focus our thoughts. All of this is possible and fruitful because ‘The Lord is near’. We need that reminder, He is with us, to control ourselves, our thoughts and actions.

Discipline of Prayer

I think they key of this discipline is in the verse as well. Prayer. Prayer is the discipline which controls our thoughts. Prayer, that communion with God, can reform our minds.

The how is also there, and it is also the encouragement to do so. Tucked into these statements from Paul is verse 7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The prayer and thanksgiving have their own reward. The peace of God will not only be present but will guard our hearts and minds. What do we guard if not that which is precious to us? Christ himself will guard our hearts and minds. He will guard us, protect us and repel invasion. That is what guards and fences and gates are for. Our prayer and thanksgiving send up a guard which is peace in Christ. It guards our hearts and minds from the invasion of sin- our actions and thoughts that lead us to sin and also the incursion of sin into our hearts and minds.

Our Responsibility

I do not think we should separate the admonishment from the guard of Christ. We too have a responsibility to discipline ourselves to pray and to direct our thoughts on that which is good. Given that these verses begin with ‘do not be anxious’, it is clearly a common feeling, and one which can be a stronghold difficult to break. But prayer breaks it; the prayer may be a simple one-word invitation: ‘Jesus’. I think that is, he is, our first and last thought of the days of peace. Jesus. We need only think to him and all else returns to its just place. Unrest is swept away and the focus returns to Him, who will guard our hearts and minds.

So, we must discipline ourselves to prayer and thanksgiving, to focus our thoughts on what is good, and His peace will guard our hearts and minds. This is the choice that we make for peace: the discipline of prayer and thanksgiving, the discipline of controlling our thoughts and actions.