“And the God of peace will be with you.”
Apostle Paul makes the foregoing statement as a promise predicated on the exhortation in Philippians 4:8-9a. In other words, Philippians 4:8-9a sets the condition for the statement above (verse 9b).
Philippians 4:8 states, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”
Philippians 4:9a states, “whatever you have learned or received from me, or even seen in me -put into practice.”
Philippians 4:9b states, “And the God of peace will be with you.”
Obviously, anyone who will take time to prayerfully consider apostle Paul’s legacy is very likely to realize that he (Paul) lived by (practiced) the principle he states in verse 8 so that Paul knew it works and does not fail.
Here the Holy Spirit reveals one of the reasons we do not experience the peace of God especially when we need it the most, that is, when our peace is disturbed. The key is in the kind of thoughts we entertain for not any kind of thought or thinking can ensure the peace of God in the midst of life’s trials and challenges but focusing on what is at the same time true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.
True peace is a matter of minding -taking charge of- our thinking or thoughts.
God help us all!
