Bible verse
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 · BSB
"Be anxious for nothing" would be a cruel thing to say on its own, which is why Paul does not stop there. The sentence continues into what to do instead: pray, ask specifically, and say thank you while you do it.
The word behind "guard" in verse 7 is a military one — a garrison posted around a town. Philippi was a garrison town, so the readers would have pictured soldiers on a wall. The peace is not described as a feeling that arrives. It is described as something stationed around your mind while the situation is still unresolved.
The verses around it, from Philippians 4.
2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
ASV
In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
ERV
In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible, which is free of copyright restrictions for use on websites. Read the full Bible on Great Faith.