Hearts and Minds


Dear brothers and sisters, here is a truth, a newly revealed truth that you might not be aware of.
As a matter of introduction; there are many passages of Scripture pasted up in my study to be perused at leisure and which are at hand in times of Spiritual need. The example that follows is positioned right before my eyes, as these words are being written, and was placed there for when things of the world caused anxiousness and oppression.: Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.; (Philippians 4:6-7)

I understand now that this passage was affixed in the position it is with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because only half the message, verse six, dealing with my anxiousness, was understood.
The most important part of the passage, God's response and promise, was glossed over in the concern for my tribulation.
The peace of God.
You see, the first verse deals with worldly conditions - that of the prince of the power of the air that we breathe.
Verse seven deals with God's supernatural response to those who have peace with Him, through faith in the Covenant that Jesus made with God the Father on our behalf.
The faith that resulted in our conversion.
As we have seen however, peace with God comes first.
This occurs when we decide to cast off the reliance on the powerful drug of this temporal¹ world and choose to follow the Loving Creator of this and all worlds, temporal and spiritual.: Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wondrous face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim; In the light of His glory and grace

Once we have made thankful loving peace with our Creator according to His statutes and no longer strive with Him, we shall each be made a citizen of His Kingdom and receive His peace, the peace of God, the peace that passeth all understanding, and His protection of our eternal souls.: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 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. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.; (Romans 5:1-11)
It goes like this:
We need the faith that believes God hears our prayers and supplications² to Him.
The faith that carries with it our good works of charity.
For our Living, Caring, Spiritual King.
Who is above all.
Who created all.
Who will keep our eternal hearts and minds.
By His grace (the undeserved mercy of God).
Hallelujah !
: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.; (Hebrews 11:6)

¹ Temporal: relating to time; to time in this life.
² Supplicant: Asking submissively - entreating; a humble petitioner.



: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.; (Philippians 4:4-7)

Rejoice in the Lord:
Rejoice: To gladden - to feel joy; to exult; to make merry. Rejoicing - an instance of being joyful, to experience joy.

Someone once wrote:
First comes love, then joy, and the third fruit of the Spirit is peace. the order is an inspired one: first; love - love is pre-eminent; then joy - joy comes as a result of love; and then peace - peace is joy grown quiet and assured. A preacher once drew a comparison between joy and peace: "joy is peace with its hat thrown high in the air and peace is joy with its arms folded in serene assurance.

So, it becomes apparent that joy in the Lord has the peace of God as its Spiritual fruit.
This peace is not something that can be manufactured, but only comes upon those reborn of the Spirit who believe that God is who He says He is, and rejoice that they are servants of Almighty God - thankful for the privilege of being used by their Creator.
Those who bear Spiritual fruit; who have beau(tiful) attitudes (Matthew 5 to 7).
Hallelujah!

From the following, we see the Promise confirmed that the Peace which God provides is supernatural, and conditional:: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.; (John 14:26-28)
Supernatural, because the Holy Spirit, who is God, will teach us.
Conditional, because the love that we should each have is outward looking, not self-ish.

You see, God is Love. When we love Him who sent His Son to pour out His own blood for us we realise that God doesn't need us, He can do anything. We need Him, we want (at last) to please our God, and because He wants us to willingly and lovingly follow Him, we rejoice in being able to.
This will inevitably result in God supplying Spiritual peace to us which becomes apparent to those around us in this foreign land that we temporally reside in.
The peace of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

Here are some words that were written by two of God's apostles as salutation at the beginning of letters sent to believers:: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.; (Ephesians 1:1-2); Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.; (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4); Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,; (2 Peter 1:1-2)
: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.; (Galatians 5:22-23 AV)