“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Phil. 4:5)

When it says that our gentleness should be known or be evident to ‘all men/people’, that would include those who are closest to us, who spend the most time around us, and who see us the most often.

It goes on to admonish us: “Be anxious for nothing.” (6)

When it says “ be anxious for ‘nothing’…”, there is no footnote in my Bible that makes an exception, suggesting it’s okay to be anxious for things like who’s trailing in political elections, or if a Muslim family moves into your neighborhood, or if oil prices spike again, or your favorite sports team gets upset over the weekend. Yes, that list could get rather lengthy here, could it not, when it comes to talking about things that make us ‘anxious’?

Why, you could even show up at the wrong airport to catch an important flight home, only to be informed you are at the wrong airport in the wrong city, with less than 90 minutes to get to the airport you are supposed to be flying out of, and that still not qualify for being an excuse for being ‘anxious’. (Ask me how I know that one!)

Now that’s not to say we are not tempted to cave-in to anxiety and frustration and fear at times, but we all know those options are counter-productive to walking in the peace of God that we’ve been called to walk in (Luke 1:79; Isa. 26:3). You probably know someone personally whose life is marked with anxiety, panic attacks. or worry and fear; so tell me…how’s that working out for them?

Paul even offers sound advice on how to counter those waves of anxiousness that we are all familiar with and subject to… when he writes: “but in everything…by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God…”. Where it says ‘in everything’, that means…’everything’.

And if abiding in Christ is important to you, along with the desire to please God because you love Him more than anything else in this temporal world, an encouraging promise is made to us when we ‘do’ what the word says, as compared to just ‘hearing it’ or ‘quoting’ it. We are told that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard/keep your hearts and minds…through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Can I just tell you…that ‘peace’ is available for us to walk in 24/7…regardless of who wins political elections, or any other list of things in your life that don’t go as planned. In fact, when you discover that we can ‘abide’ in such a place of peace…continually… and then begin to ‘walk in it’…you will make it a priority in your life to never want to venture off that path again.

Were you aware that God’s peace… is one of those ‘perks’ given to those who ‘abide in Jesus’. That was what Jesus promised to leave with His disciples…’HIS peace”, and He even distinguishes that from the peace the ‘world offers’ us. (John 14:27). You know…how when we tell ourselves how we will have ‘peace….IF…such and such happens’. You might want to take a moment or two with that one, and ask the Holy Spirit where you may be guilty of that. I still remember the Lord calling my hand on that back in 2016, asking me ‘since when does your peace depend on who wins elections…or not?’

I referenced Isaiah 26:3 earlier; and I like the way the Amplified Bible spells it out: “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].”

My goodness…who of us can admit how much easier it is to quote Bible verses, than it is to actually ‘do them’, and put them into practice?

This idea of ‘setting one’s mind on things above’, that Col. 3:2 speaks about, really is ‘a thing’. So when we are told that ‘perfect peace’ is available to those whose minds are ‘stayed upon Him’, or ‘steadfast’…there is a tad bit more required than just making mental assent and ‘agreeing’ with what His word says. We have to ‘do it’ (John 2:5; James 1:22).

I made the case yesterday, in my lesson…that ‘abiding in Jesus’ is akin to driving a car down a two lane highway…and as long as we stay in our lane, we can drive, or remain in peace. If you are riding along with your 16-year old child who just got their learner’s permit, and you hear them begin to panic, expressing fear that the ‘car is drifting’ or ‘veering’ into another lane, your immediate advice to them is to ‘steer the car back into their lane’!. Friends … ’faith’ is NOT passive; on the contrary…’faith is active’ and is marked by ‘obedience’ to God’s word. (Heb. 3:17-18; James 2:18)

Would you do yourself a favor, and finish up here today by reading the very first Psalm. It’s a great reminder as to how one might find themselves experiencing the blessings of God on a more consistent basis. And would you be sure to mark vs. 2…where it says the blessed person’s “…delight…is found in the law/word of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

Oh, I know…that is totally unrealistic for anyone to do, right? Nobody can keep their minds on God and His word all day long; let’s be real. We have jobs and obligations and responsibilities and duties to tend to, right? No argument from me on that one. But…would you take a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to do a quick ‘inventory’ with you and look how often we choose… to ‘set our minds’ on other things…that hold no eternal value for us, let alone provide peace of mind throughout the day? There is an ‘on and off switch’ to all the distracting noises that surround us throughout the day. Why not start using it for a change; that is…if it’s genuine, lasting peace you yearn for. Just a thought. ;- )