6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  

8 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.  

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  

When you have an issue on your heart, you will find yourself dwelling on that issue day and night. I don’t mean physical ailments of the heart, I mean anguish and turmoil from wrestling with the common issues of life; i.e. issues surrounding food, shelter, clothing, money, sex, and balancing the means of attaining all the above. These things have a tendency to haunt you because you are well aware that right and wrong choices concerning these issues have the ability to advance you, destroy you or at the very least, redefine you. You will tell everyone that you’ve submitted the issue for God to handle, but deep inside, your natural mind will not allow issues to go unanswered for any extended period of time without demanding that somebody solve the problem.  

 In this passage Paul declares that there is an answer to the anguish, there is rest from the turmoil. He proclaims that there is such a thing as “The peace of God” which will lay your mind at ease. The peace of God is described in verse 7 as being able to baffle men, it goes beyond understanding. This is to say, the peace of God exists when no one, including yourself, can find any reason for there to be peace in your life. Jesus mentions this same peace in John 14:27 when He gives the comforting message “My peace I give to you; I do not give to you as the world gives… ”.

 Then Paul reveals the secrete to enjoying the peace of God; the peace that surpasses understanding. He says you must govern your inner thought life to achieve this peace. Do not allow yourself to be anxious about anything. So many of us worry about anything and everything all the time, most of which is beyond your control anyway. Paul says don’t fret; just simply make your petition known to God. In other words, do not conduct your life in doubt, panic and disbelief. Operate in confidence. In everything, by prayer and thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And then rest. 

 Paul expresses that your inner conversation is critical, especially right after you have prayed. To keep you out of doubt, look for whatever you can find that is true, noble or right and think on that for awhile. Give that issue a rest. Find something pure, something lovely, and something admirable. Think on something good for a change. 

 Now, don’t get discouraged if you can’t find anything pure or lovely after listening to Hip-Hop radio all day then watching the 10:00 News before going to bed — there is one person you can think about who is all of these things and more. There is one subject that will never let you down, He is pure, just, lovely and always of good report. He is true; in fact, He is the truth and the light. Any time of day or night, no matter what you are facing, just think on Jesus. Think on the one who’s made a way for you time after time again. Think on the one who died on the cross to set you free. Think on the lover of your soul, the one by which are saved. Think on these things. And the God of peace, that peace which transcends understanding, will be with you.