A favorite scripture verse of mine is Philippians 4:7 “The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Like many in this crazy, stressed-out, constantly-running-to-catch-up world, I long for peace. Peace that will last not just for a moment, but for days, months, years. Peace that will calm my stormy seas.
Paul describes God’s peace in some unique ways. First, he states that God’s peace will surpass human knowledge or understanding. This means that God’s peaces comes even when I have not figured everything out or have everything under my control. The future may seem very fuzzy and relationships may be very rocky, still God’s peace can rule. After all it is God’s peace, not mine.
Second he testifies that God’s peace is strong, because it guards us. Paul recognizes that there will be many struggles and conflicts in our daily life. The evil one will harass us. Yet God’s peace is a rock or fortress that guards our hearts and minds from the assaults
Third, God’s peace guards both our hearts and our minds. The heart is the seat of our emotions and the mind is the home of our thoughts. God’s peace is to rule in our emotional and intellectual lives, our feelings and our thoughts.
Finally God’s peace directs us to Jesus Christ. Jesus was a model of peace to his disciples, sleeping in the boat when the stormy sea threatened (Mark 4:35-41). God’s peace is not found in the absence of problems, but with the presence of Jesus.
Right now, as you read this, take a moment to close your eyes and visualize God’s loving, peaceful arms surrounding you. Perhaps you can visualize yourself floating in the peaceful river above. Take a deep breath and say, “God’s Peace surrounds me.” Take another deep breath and say it again, “God’s peace surrounds me.” Practice that breath prayer and discover God’s abiding peace is always near.
Lord Jesus, breathe into me your peace.
Pastor John Keller 
A good way to start a promisingly chaotic day. Thank you.
Thank you for this thought provoking message. This has always been a favorite passage. Right now as our country seems in turmoil over the hurricane, the upcoming elections and the many personal issues in everyone’s lives, it is comforting to know that Jesus is the source of real peace that the world’s problems will never be able to take away. Thanks for the reminder!
“God’s peace is not found in the absence of problems, but with the presence of Jesus.”
I enjoyed this very much – Yes Peace is, if I were to pick just one word from the Bible, would be my favourite. If I think of peace, it is something I read that said ‘where peace is you find no confusion’. To me this is as you say, being totally alone in His presence.