A Fortress of Peace
"And the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7
That is a verse I have in my memory from a while back. And not until today did it become real.
I have at least six translations of the bible in my library, and that's just English. I also have German, Spanish and Greek as well. Needless to say... I like to be thorough. I seem to buy a new bible every time I go through a valley in my life. I also like to keep the Word fresh , so when I have a few different translations around, I can get a different perspective.
Right now the translation I am using for my devotions in the morning is the Contemporary English Version. I really like the flavour of this one. It's one of my favourites. Verses that I've memorized in the NIV talk to me all over again.
Philippians 4:7 is one of those. This is how it reads in the CEV.
"Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel."
Wow! This way it becomes applicable to my circumstances. You see... My thoughts and feelings get distorted at times due to the presence of Bipolar Disorder. I have lost control often of my cognitive thinking and my emotions. It's a daily battle and sometimes I think I'm loosing. But what excites me so much about this verse is the power of peace to control my thoughts and my emotions. My thoughts and feelings dictate my actions. I think I should do something and I do it... I feel like I should do something and I do it. Oh to have such control so every part of me oozes the peace that is beyond all human understanding. What better blessing is there from God than to walk in His peace. I think that is what He wants for all His children.
Another translation I like is the Amplified Bible. This is how Philippians 4:7 reads there.
"And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Wow again! "garrison and mount guard" -- a fortress of peace. Isn't that the stuff you need to hear when things like stress, anxiety, worry and frustrations threaten to bombard your heart and your mind. The only prerequisite is to be "in Christ". And that is a topic for another bible note.
That is a verse I have in my memory from a while back. And not until today did it become real.
I have at least six translations of the bible in my library, and that's just English. I also have German, Spanish and Greek as well. Needless to say... I like to be thorough. I seem to buy a new bible every time I go through a valley in my life. I also like to keep the Word fresh , so when I have a few different translations around, I can get a different perspective.
Right now the translation I am using for my devotions in the morning is the Contemporary English Version. I really like the flavour of this one. It's one of my favourites. Verses that I've memorized in the NIV talk to me all over again.
Philippians 4:7 is one of those. This is how it reads in the CEV.
"Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel."
Wow! This way it becomes applicable to my circumstances. You see... My thoughts and feelings get distorted at times due to the presence of Bipolar Disorder. I have lost control often of my cognitive thinking and my emotions. It's a daily battle and sometimes I think I'm loosing. But what excites me so much about this verse is the power of peace to control my thoughts and my emotions. My thoughts and feelings dictate my actions. I think I should do something and I do it... I feel like I should do something and I do it. Oh to have such control so every part of me oozes the peace that is beyond all human understanding. What better blessing is there from God than to walk in His peace. I think that is what He wants for all His children.
Another translation I like is the Amplified Bible. This is how Philippians 4:7 reads there.
"And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Wow again! "garrison and mount guard" -- a fortress of peace. Isn't that the stuff you need to hear when things like stress, anxiety, worry and frustrations threaten to bombard your heart and your mind. The only prerequisite is to be "in Christ". And that is a topic for another bible note.
posted by Ruby Voigt | 4:39 PM
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