“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 ESV

I’ve always had big feelings and emotions. I have also been blessed with a very active imagination to accompany my feelings and emotions. You can only begin to imagine the wild stories I have conjured up in my mind over the years.

I also grew up in a generation that loves inspirational quotes, one being “Follow your heart.” As a young woman, I was fed this lie repeatedly in the form of literature, media, music, and pop culture.

A perfect storm was brewing.

At the peak of my teenage years, I found myself terribly unhappy and possessed no self-control in handling life’s difficulties.

We are given instructions in the final chapter of Philippians. We are told to stand firm (verse 1), rejoice always (verse 4), let our reasonableness be known (verse 5), anxious about nothing (verse 6), and pray about everything (verse 6).

After we have done this, the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.”

This lets me know that my heart cannot be my guide. I have learned that my emotions cannot always be trusted. My feelings and perception of a situation can betray me, and trick me into believing the distorted illusion my heart has created.

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

I need the peace of God to guard my heart and mind.

Galatians 5:24 reads “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

I must die daily to my flesh, and to what my heart desires.

Philippians 4:8 reads “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I am committed to changing the way I think.

Has your heart led you away from the presence of God? What fuels your thoughts? If you find yourself drifting from God and His Word, there are new mercies waiting for you (Lamentations 3:22-23).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.