GUARDING OUR HEARTS

Life throws many a challenge at us. A lot of things can go wrong in our lives, as we walk faithfully and obediently with our LORD. Many times, we will stand facing the fiery darts of the enemy, and it may feel as though, the LORD our God had abandoned us. Such a situation, if anything, is quite normal and natural for a child of God, in our walk on the Narrow Path. However we should note, and note it well that, the LORD our Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ, never abandons His children. He is always right beside us, whether we feel it or not – Hebrews 13:5-6. This is why the Word of God says…
– “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.” – Philippians 4:6-7

As the last lesson from the above verses, let us see what we can learn from – “…WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.” The complete context of this is as follows – “7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7. The Peace of God, which passeth or surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus our LORD and our Redeemer.

There are two things we can learn from the portion we selected for our meditation. 1- “…WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS…” 2- “…THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.” Let us look at both of them.

1- “WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS”
We can observe in this world that, we can lose our heart and our mind many times, because of the storms and struggles we face. This is normal and natural, especially for a Christian. This is precisely the reason why the LORD made the provision of His Peace which passeth all understanding. Therefore, “the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.” 

Securing our hearts is of utmost importance. This is where everything begins and ends. The battle is always for our hearts and our minds. Whoever wins our hearts and minds, wins us. When the thief captures our hearts, he will do what he is best known for – “to steal, to kill and to destroy” – John 10:10. This is why the LORD says…
– “23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

2- “THROUGH CHRIST JESUS”
The peace in itself and in its own, has no intrinsic value. It has no standing when it stands on its own. The peace that comes because of, and through the LORD Jesus Christ, is the peace that comes from God Almighty. Only when we have peace with God through Jesus the LORD and Saviour, do we have peace within our hearts; and it is this peace that will guard our hearts and our minds.
– “​1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:1-5

Dear brothers and sisters, let us learn not to be anxious about anything and everything that this world may throw at us. As a child of God, we need not be worried or troubled. Yes, we will have to endure the pain and suffering if any. There is no way out of it. Instead of being anxious, we should and must bring our prayers and petitions to the LORD, with thanksgiving. When we do so diligently, the Peace of God which passeth all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus our LORD. 
– “​1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” – Psalms 121

Even so, the LORD help us.