Let Peace Guard Your Hearts and Minds

Have you ever had anyone say to you: Guard your heart? And was your response inside: What does that mean?

We always go to the Word of God for our answers. In Philippians 4:6-9 we read:
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 (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary we read that heart-offending is the wounding of the heart. We are admonished in God’s Word not to be offended. In other words, we are not to allow other people’s words or actions toward us or those we love to wound us or hurt us. Even though people can be cruel with their words toward us, we are not to allow their words to wound us. Yes, it can be extremely difficult to turn away from woundedness.

Here in Philippians we have our instructions. Be careful for nothing. Don’t fret about things or worry or have anxiety concerning our lives. That includes being upset with what other people say or think about us, whether it is good or bad.

In every circumstance and situation of life, we are to go to the Lord in prayer and thank Him for taking care of us and those we love. We must trust Him to deal with “the stuff” that is intended to upset us and trap us. Offense is a bait just as much as a trapper puts a bait in his trap to catch an animal. It is a snare to our walk in Jesus.

We are told in verse 7 that when we turn our situations over to the Lord and thank Him, the peace (shalom, all is well, prosperity, which we have studied for the last 4 days) will keep or guard or mount guard over our hearts and minds. Peace will be the guard over our hearts. Peace will be the guard over our minds. God’s peace is shalom; all is well attitude or faith. In the Strong’s Concordance we read that the word “keep” means to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates): fig. to hem in, protect: ---keep (with a garrison).

When we fix, establish our hearts and minds on whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, our hearts and minds are guarded with peace, shalom. Peace is the watcher in advance, mounting guard as a sentinel, protecting us, keeping us with a garrison if necessary.

Verses 6 and 7 in the Complete Jewish Bible tell us to rejoice in our union with the Lord always. Don’t worry about anything. Instead, make our requests known to God with thanksgiving, with a thankful heart. Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep (guard) our hearts and minds safe in union with Messiah Yeshua.

We are, indeed, in a spiritual battle, especially in the days in which we live now. God’s peace is on duty at all times like a guard, a sentinel, a watchman, a sentry, protecting us from the enemy. Peace, shalom is standing guard over us. The Peace of God is a 24-7 sentry, always on duty. We can take comfort in that. But the peace of God is blocked from performing His duty when we are taking matters into our own hands by worrying and fretting and anxiety and anger and woundedness.

Shalom is activated by prayer and thanksgiving, trust, instead of worry or fear.

Peace is necessary and is definitely the guard of our hearts and minds. It puts us in harmony with God and releases His power on our behalf because we are one with Him, Who is peace.