Philippians 4:6-7 promises peace when we make all our petitions and requests in all situations with thanksgiving to God? In the next two verses, Paul gives a second promise of peace …
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
“Think about such things,” the idea is prolonged thought. It could be translated “ponder these things.” Dwell on, ruminate about true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy things.
So … personal peace grows out of a disciplined thought life? Isn’t that’s what all the gurus are saying?
- Think good thoughts
- Go to your happy place
- The good you are seeking is seeking you
- Focus on good thoughts and good things will happen.
No … Paul is not pushing that very popular, very pagan, very empty ideology. Now, I’m not denying the common-sense connection between your thought life and peace. What your mind feeds on will affect your outlook on life. A teenage girl who feeds on a steady diet of slasher movies will feel less peaceful in a dark room than one who has not. A husband who constantly turns to pornography will have less peace in his physical (and spiritual) relationship with his wife.
But Paul was talking about more than detoxing your thought life … and he was promising something deeper than mental tranquility. In Philippians 4:6-7 he promised “the peace of God.” In verses eight and nine, he promises … “And the God of peace will be with you.” The thought-life Paul is advocating leads to the peace of God and the presence of God! Maybe it would be even better to say … this course of life leads to peace in God’s presence.
In preparation for the last blog in this series, I invite you to make a list of topics you think would meet these criteria … whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy … think about such things.
