Personal Protector

Rick Isaiah

READY

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7

SET

As an athlete, you understand that bumps, bruises, and injuries are part of the journey. You learn fast that there is a difference between being injured or hurt. Hurt says you can still compete. Injured means that you are on the sideline or bench watching your teammates compete as you heal. As athletes, whether hurt or injured, fear and anxiety can creep in and steal our peace and joy promised to us by our Lord and Savior. I have learned in my Christian journey that whatever I am feeling or experiencing, fear or anxiety, the Bible, the Word of God, has something to say about it.

Philippians 4:6–7 reminds me that I have a “personal protector” against fear and anxiety. In a football context, on fourth down, when the team with the ball has to punt, there are two or three players who stand in front of the punter, keeping

defenders from getting to him so he can punt the ball successfully. Without these personal protectors, disaster would be inevitable.

To deal with fear and anxiety, Paul reminds us not to be anxious, but he also gives some instructions on overcoming fear and anxiety. The apostle Paul says we must pray, telling God what we need, how we feel, and how to be thankful. Paul then goes on to introduce us to our personal protector: PEACE.

Paul says that when we pray, tell God the issue and what we need with a thankful heart, and that peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. When we have the peace of God in our life, our hearts and minds are protected. We no longer need to be afraid or think thoughts that are not from God about the pending situation before us; we have our personal protector—the peace of God.

GO  

• What circumstances are causing you to be afraid?  
• Describe a time in your life when you experienced God’s peace.

WORKOUT

Psalm 23; Psalm 27; Matthew 11:28–30; Psalm 91; John 14:27

OVERTIME

"Father, thank You for the peace You provide. Help me not to take that peace for granted. Amen."