How to Guard Your Heart and Mind
Message Summary:
[Philippians 4:7-9 NKJV] 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Today, Pastor Pascale taught about the mind diet that Paul outlined in Phil. 4. Paul is drawing a conclusion based on his argument on the importance of protecting your mind. We must be more intentional in how we guard our minds. But Pastor Pascale reminded us that attack could come from outside of us and from within us. That means we have to guard to keep certain things out (repel, resist, reject, push away, prevent), such as social media, news, culture, relational influence, etc. But we also have to protect (hold, maintain, fortify, wall up) against internal influences that could harm us, such as anxiety, irrational fears, worry, etc. These are the attacks that come from our own minds and souls.
That is why Paul provided us with a specific diet of characteristics we must meditate on. These are the components of the diet that we regularly need to maintain a healthy mind. This list Paul provides shapes our higher reality. Though circumstances and situations in front of us may feel very real, we must focus our minds on a high reality rooted in God. We need to know what is actually real – not what seems real, but what is actually real. That means we need to know the word of God, the highest reality. The word of God is there to hold you steady when the wind and waves come. When the tests of this life come, you are not shaken because you already know the answer to the test. How is this possible? It is only possible if you are standing on Christ and His word. “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…”
When we know the word of God, it acts as a guard for our mind and protects us from the emotional roller coaster that is a byproduct of living in this world. When we learn the word of God, we will know what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. We need to know these things because they protect our minds and provide peace in our lives. These truths hold us and anchor us in our higher reality – our heavenly reality – even when everything else is falling apart. When we know God’s word, we have all we need to check out emotions and navigate by peace.
Scriptures:
[John 3:33-34 NKJV] 33 "He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
[John 15:1-4 NKJV] 1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
[2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV] 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…
Discussion Questions:
1. What is a mind diet exactly?
2. What does it mean to “guard” your mind?
3. Why does Paul point out these specific nutrients for our mind diet?
4. Where do we find all of these nutrients?
5. What is the influence of God’s word in our lives?
Life Application:
Over the next three weeks, as you study the key scriptures, ask yourself: Are you really spending time in the word? How often do you really spend time studying and meditating on the word? Paul commanded us to maintain a mind diet, a diet whose nutrients can only be found in the word of God. We need to nourish ourselves with the word daily. When we do, we will have what we need to combat the “facts” of this world with the reality found in the scriptures. This week, we challenge you to dive into the word. Start a bible plan in your Bible app, or find a devotional book that encourages you to read the word daily. You need the nutrients found in the word if you want to experience peace!