Posted on 08/21/2025 4:23:42 AM PDT by ViLaLuz
In Philippians 4:7 we have a wonderful promise: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It is important to note the context of this promise, because that’s where we find the condition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6). God’s peace is promised to guard those who pray—with thanksgiving—about everything. This peace will transcend our ability to understand it.
(Excerpt) Read more at gotquestions.org ...
The believer who places his or her full confidence in a loving God and is thankful in every circumstance will possess a supernatural peace. An inner calm will dominate the heart. The faithful believer will know peace—his heart and mind are “guarded” by it—despite the tempest raging without. No one, especially those outside of Christ, will be able to fathom that peace. To most, it will remain a mystery how someone can be so serene in the midst of turmoil.
The peace that comes from being in a right relationship with God is not the peace of this world. The world’s peace depends on having favorable circumstances: if things are going well, then we feel peaceful; when things go awry, the peace quickly dissipates. Jesus made the distinction between His peace and the world’s vacillating peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27).
God’s supernatural peace surpasses natural understanding. A cancer patient who experiences a remission of the disease may proclaim, “I am so thankful to God!” That is praise. A cancer patient who is dying and in pain may calmly say, “Everything is all right. I claim Romans 8:28, and I have peace in my heart.” That is “the peace that passes all understanding.”
Ping! The actual article has all the linked Bible verses for deeper understanding.
The last paragraph hits home. God works in mysterious ways.
yes, it’s what allows Christians to do heroic things. Since we understand that our bodies are nothing, and we will live forever and be reborn, it allows us to make choices that other people can’t. Remember that heroic muslim that saved all those people? Yeah, me neither.
On the other hand, we are all human and suffer being downcast from time to time. (Just. Reminder not to beat ourselves up when we are down and discouraged at times)
Even prophets, called by God, questioned the harsh treatments they received, and God relented, sympathising with our frail faith. But all in all, “We should” be in peace and give thanks. Though it’s hard to do when the deck is stacked against a person relentlessly it seems at times. Elijah also despaired of life. As did other prophets.
Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast born me a man of strife,.... Not that the prophet was a quarrelsome and contentious man, but others quarrelled and contended with him, and that for no other reason than for his faithful discharge of his office, under which he ought to have been easy; but being a man of like passions with others, wishes he had never been born, than to meet with so much trouble; and seems to blame his mother for bearing him; or however looked upon himself to be a miserable man through his birth, and that he was destined from thence to this sorrow:
and a man of contention to the whole earth; or “land”; the land of Judea, the inhabitants of it, as the Targum; for with no other had Jeremiah to do; and it were these only that contended with him, because he brought a disagreeable message to them, concerning their captivity:
I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; which was not lawful with the Jews to do; and therefore such were cursed that did it: but this is not to be restrained to this particular branch of business, which was not usual; but has respect to all trade and commerce; and the meaning is, that the prophet did not concern himself with secular affairs, but attended to the duties of his office; he carried on no negotiations with men; he was neither a creditor nor a debtor; had nothing to do with pecuniary affairs; which often occasions strifes and contentions, quarrels and lawsuits; and yet, notwithstanding, could not be free from strife and debate:
yet everyone of them do curse me; that is, everyone of the inhabitants of the land of Judea, so much known were Jeremiah and his prophecies; these slighted and set light by both him and his predictions; and wished the vilest imprecations upon him for his messages to them. The word here used is compounded of two words, or derived from two roots, as Kimchi observes; the one signifies to make light or vilify, in opposition to honour and glory; and the other to curse, in opposition to blessing; and this is often the case of the ministers of the word, not only to be slighted and despised, but to be defamed and cursed; see 1 Corinthians 4:12.
Jeremiah 15:11
The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
The Lord said,.... In answer to the prophet’s complaint:
verily it shall be well with thy remnant: not with the remnant of his people, or those that should escape the threatened calamities; but the sense is, that it should be well with him in his latter end; the remainder of his days should be comfortable or be spent in peace and prosperity; and so the Targum,
“if thine end shall not be for good.’’
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To all of us: what have you prayed for today, and what has God given to you as a blessing?
Thanks for this posting today.
It’s very appropriate to where I am in my life at the moment.
I know what I’ve prayed for and need to find out later if it came to pass.
I’ll know partway through the day.
God wins and everything that happens which we would call good or bad is a milestone on His road to Victory.
You will not know it until you experience it.
The Love is so profound that if someone pointed a gun to your head and threatened to kill you, you still would only feel Love for them.
I first experienced it when I died and was crossing over to Heaven. As you go through the tunnel through the layer of darkness after you leave your body, the Light shining from above fill you with this Love and Bliss.
It prevents you from experiencing any fear as you pass through the darkness, filled with gargoyles, demons and mis-shaped beings that try to scare you.
I also experience this same Bliss when I am holding someone’s hand as they die and cross over. I share their experience. It’s why I do hospice work.
With a lot of soul cleansing work, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can achieve this same Bliss and Peace in prayerful meditation.
It is a higher level of consciousness than the Holy Spirit, but you cannot reach it without the help of the Holy Spirit.
I can tell if another person has achieved it in their past by the warmth of the fire radiating from their chest.
God works in mysterious ways.
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Indeed He does. I’m learning to trust in Him completely even though I don’t always understand.
Thank you for sharing Jeremiah for further insight. Your post makes me think of Job as well.
Yes, our bodies are flesh that will return to ashes and dust. While we are living our bodies have the ability to be the temple for the Holy Spirit as well, as we created in the image of God. This is what I strive to remember.
Good question. Today I’m praying up to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit as I head into work to a possible conflict with a fellow associate. May I be a good witness for our Savior.
Amen! Praying for you today Sister.
God wins and everything that happens which we would call good or bad is a milestone on His road to Victory.
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Amen. That’s the Truth.
The Love is so profound that if someone pointed a gun to your head and threatened to kill you, you still would only feel Love for them.
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Yes! Just like Jesus as he was being crucified, asked God to forgive his tormentors in their ignorance.
I think of the peace of the 21 Coptic martyrs executed by ISIS.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XwPQqkeeCTg
Your experience is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s wonderful you minister to those in hospice.
I wish I could recall from whom (maybe Chuck Swyndol?) this quote originated, but it has stuck with me ever since I heard it.
“Whenever I find myself feeling bitter, I realize that it is because I fogot to be thankful”
Once recognized and then applied, bitterness (also anger & unforgiveness) vanishes and is replaced with joy and inner peace.
Great quote. It reminds me of another:
""What would you have today if you only had what you thanked God for yesterday?"
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