Philippians 4:6-7

I’ve committed this to memory, and have been repeating it to myself often throughout my days…mostly when I’m anxious.  I don’t memorize and repeat scripture because of any sense of religious obligation, but in order to remind myself of the truth and to exert force upon my wayward will that tends to believe in the realities of the temporal world I see around me rather than the REALITIES of the spiritual realm that we cannot see.  I forget constantly, and truly need reminders all throughout my days…are you like me in that regard? 

I’ve also done some digging into the original language of this passage, and have found some deeper truths that illuminate their meanings like a Winter sunrise that pierces the fog. Then, when I repeat these words to myself, their full weight falls upon those worried places in my soul with such force that my worries seem rather small in comparison…and the feelings of fear, dread, worry, etc., evaporate and wither like unwanted fantasies.  Then I see as God sees.

Check out these words with me from the original Greek language:

• “Do not be ANXIOUS about anything…”  “Anxious” is “merimnate” – drawn in opposite directions; “divided into parts”; figuratively, “to go to pieces” because pulled apart in different directions.  
• “…but in everything, by PRAYER…”  “Prayer” is “proseuchē” – from “pros”, “towards, exchange” and “euxe”, “a wish, prayer” – properly, “exchange of wishes”
• “…and PETITION…”  “Petition” is “deēsei” – heart-felt asking, arising out of deep personal need.
• “…with THANKSGIVING…”  “Thanksgiving” is “eucharistias” – expressing gratitude to God, as an act of worship, for His grace.  This is where we get the word “eucharist.”
• “…PRESENT your requests to God…”  “Present” is “gnōrizesthō” – to make known.
• “…and the PEACE of God…”  “Peace” is “eirēnē” – wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are tied together into a whole.
• “…which TRANSCENDS…” – “Transcends” is “hyperechousa” – from “hyper”, beyond, above, and “exō”, have – properly, “to have beyond, i.e. to possess that which is superior/better than, to excel, to surpass, to rise above.” 
• “…all UNDERSTANDING…” – “Understanding” is “noon” – the mind; mental capacity to exercise reflective thinking, understanding, reason.
• “…will GUARD…” – “Guard” is “phrourēsei” – to guard, keep watch, like a military sentinel; (figuratively) to actively display whatever defensive and offensive means are necessary to guard.
• “…your HEARTS…” – “Hearts” is “kardias” – “the affective center of our being”, will, character, desires.
• “…and MINDS…” – “Minds” is “noēmata” – thoughts, purposes, designs
• “…in CHRIST JESUS.”  In Jesus, the King.

Maybe I’m just a total Greek Geek, nerding-out with words that nobody else cares about.  But I don’t think so.  These meanings, and the ways that they inform our understanding of God’s Word, are nothing short of transformative!  I’d rather give half an hour to meditating on these words and meanings in the presence of my Father – and receiving from Him what only He can give me – than reading, watching, or taking part in anything else this world has to offer.  Below is a re-rendering of the above scripture, using the meanings from the Greek study above.  Sometimes, restating words that we are familiar with have a way of elevating our understanding and awakening our desire to put them into practice…