Guard Your Hearts

One of the most invaluable consequences of having “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension” is that it “shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  The fact that God’s peace must provide protection for our hearts and minds, implies that they are vulnerable in some way without it.  A mind that is not well-ordered, that cannot control its thoughts, and a heart that cannot direct its feelings, are wide-open to many harmful influences.  The experience of this protective peace is not limited by any circumstances.  This is one of the glorious things that makes Christianity utterly unique. Every condition can be useful and a blessing to the godly.  That is what the great promise of Romans 8:28 comes to.  By faith we know that God is not limited in working things together for the good of His chosen ones.  Concerning affliction, and the Lord’s sovereign management of it, Thomas Manton said “Our wise and faithful God would not bring it upon us if he did not know how to make a good use of it.”  The peace of God guards our hearts as we dwell on encouraging and uplifting thoughts like that (Philippians 4:8).