Finding Peace in Your Thoughts, 8 November 2026
08 11 26 Filed in: Sermons | He Promises
Finding Peace in Your Thoughts
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 8, 2026
Philippians 4:6-9
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God promises peace even when our problems persist.
Peace. We all want it. We never seem to get enough of it. Politicians promise it. Nations fight for it. Married couples seek it. Millions of people lose sleep wishing for it. Our world is filled with conflict, but much of it is not on a battlefield but in our minds. The cares of this world can be overwhelming, whether it’s broken relationships, failing physical health, mental illness, financial stress, or even our spirituality. Wouldn’t it be great if God promised to fix all our problems? He doesn’t! But God promises peace even when our problems persist.
Shalom, shalom! One of my favorite words in the world is shalom. It’s a Hebrew word that we often translate as peace, but it’s so much more. Beyond the absence of conflict, it is wholeness, completeness, well-being, and safety.
Much like the Hawaiian word “aloha” can be used for hello and goodbye, “shalom” is a greeting in Israel used for both. The message is “may you be full of well-being.” In modern Hebrew, another common greeting is “ma shlom’kha” which means “how are you?” The word “shalom” is contained within, literally asking, “What is your completeness or peace?”
This morning, ma shlom’kha? How are you? What is your peace? How is your soul? Is it well with your soul?
Today’s scripture reading is worth memorizing.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Pray about everything. That’s letting God carry our burdens. Do not be anxious about…anything. In every situation, it says. Amazingly, Paul wrote this while imprisoned! He knew pain, suffering, and even the possibility of death. He knew that an attitude of gratitude will remind us of God’s faithfulness amid our problems. God’s presence produces peace. He continues,
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
We need the peace of God. The original word for guard here is a military term for guarding a city. That’s power. The struggle is real, but God’s peace is standing guard. The battle may rage on, but we’re not alone. He is with us.
In this thing we call a relationship with God, I think sometimes we expect God to do all the work. We pray and want an instant miracle. God loves to involve us. Sometimes we have a role to play. Peace comes not only through prayer but also action. We must be careful what we allow into our minds. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, but garbage in, garbage out. We can’t put fear in and expect to get peace out.
I have a friend who was constantly living in a state of fear after watching cable news. He heard about this and that and was filled with fear, anxiety, and worry. One day he told me he was going to shut it off for a week. A few days later, he couldn’t believe the difference it made in his life. It reminds me of the rest of our Scripture reading:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Think about good things. Here’s the wild thing about my friend…after testifying to the peace and freedom he had from shutting off TV news, he dove back into it and resumed his worry and anxiety.
Media has a tremendous influence on us. It’s everywhere. It’s powerful. When I spend even a few minutes watching the news, I get discouraged. Fear creeps up whenever I start doomscrolling (hence its name). Here’s what to do instead:
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. (Philippians 4:9)
Practice that which is true. We experience God’s peace when we pause, pray, praise, and pay attention to the truth found in the Bible rather than feasting on fake news and filler that produces fear. We don’t just get peace from God. We get the God of peace!
Media can be addictive, but the remedy is not to try harder. It’s finding an alternative to the junk. Take a walk. Breathe in the fresh air. Admire God’s creation all around. Reflect upon the changing of seasons. Read a good book. Hug a friend. Study the Scriptures. Sing a song. Here’s a song lyric from the book of Isaiah:
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
During life’s storms and chaos, God can bring us His sustaining peace and presence. Our minds can be steadfast because they remain God-focused. It doesn’t mean you’ll never deal with fear, grief, anxiety, or uncertainty. Those are all part of being human. Peace isn’t faking it or masking it, but knowing God is with you even when you’re in the struggle. Anxiety is not an absence of faith, but it can be an invitation to turn to the one who promises to never leave or forsake you, Jesus Christ. He once told his friends,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
You may be thinking, “Great, but Jesus isn’t here. I’d be fine if he was sitting next to me.” While Jesus is not here in the flesh, the Holy Spirit is present in the life of every Christian. God lives in us!
But the of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a)
This is the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us as we meditate on God’s Word, worship, pray, fill our minds with the good stuff, and surrender to the LORD.
It’s natural to let our circumstances dictate our feelings. We all want to be happy. But like joy, peace is not dependent upon our situation. It has everything to do with the object of our focus. Prayer, right thinking, and practicing what is true are important habits and rhythms, but peace is not something we achieve, but something we receive.
We are just weeks away from the beginning of Advent, the season of Christmas, the celebration of the Messiah’s birth. One of the ancient prophecies of Christ from Isaiah, written centuries before the first Christmas, says,
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Prince of shalom, the “sar” of “shalom” which can mean prince or commander, ruler, chief. I often think of a prince as an entitled position, a symbol with limited power, but Jesus is the Ruler who brings true peace. He is the only one who can truly deliver internal rest and peace, making it well with our souls.
Last week we said God promises to be with us…always. We need to look up. Pay attention. Welcome His presence. Welcome His help. Too often we are simply too busy or noisy to pause and look up. I’m embarrassed to say this, but sometimes I forget God. I try to carry the world on my shoulders. King David wrote,
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
He promises!
Jesus’ words sound similar.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
We all have burdens, but we don’t have to carry them alone. Bring them to Jesus. As I said last week, bring them to the Church. Reach out.
When we look up and reach out, things begin to change…for the better.
So What?
Is it well with your soul? For many of you, it is not well with your circumstances. We are all facing challenges of many kinds. Sometimes we pray and wait and wonder if anyone is listening. Does God care? Absolutely!
God promises peace even when our problems persist. We must claim those promises, though. We must pray, think about the good, and practice what is true.
We must pause from our chaos, take a deep breath, invite the Holy Spirit to fill us, and remember God is in control. We’re not! We don’t just get peace from God. We get the God of peace! Whatever you are facing today, look up! Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
He Promises
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
November 8, 2026
Philippians 4:6-9
Series Description: Maybe you’ve heard what Jesus has done for others. You want to believe He can do the same for you, but you're not sure it's even possible. Jesus made several promises in the Bible—but what do they mean today?
Big Idea: God promises peace even when our problems persist.
Peace. We all want it. We never seem to get enough of it. Politicians promise it. Nations fight for it. Married couples seek it. Millions of people lose sleep wishing for it. Our world is filled with conflict, but much of it is not on a battlefield but in our minds. The cares of this world can be overwhelming, whether it’s broken relationships, failing physical health, mental illness, financial stress, or even our spirituality. Wouldn’t it be great if God promised to fix all our problems? He doesn’t! But God promises peace even when our problems persist.
Shalom, shalom! One of my favorite words in the world is shalom. It’s a Hebrew word that we often translate as peace, but it’s so much more. Beyond the absence of conflict, it is wholeness, completeness, well-being, and safety.
Much like the Hawaiian word “aloha” can be used for hello and goodbye, “shalom” is a greeting in Israel used for both. The message is “may you be full of well-being.” In modern Hebrew, another common greeting is “ma shlom’kha” which means “how are you?” The word “shalom” is contained within, literally asking, “What is your completeness or peace?”
This morning, ma shlom’kha? How are you? What is your peace? How is your soul? Is it well with your soul?
Today’s scripture reading is worth memorizing.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Pray about everything. That’s letting God carry our burdens. Do not be anxious about…anything. In every situation, it says. Amazingly, Paul wrote this while imprisoned! He knew pain, suffering, and even the possibility of death. He knew that an attitude of gratitude will remind us of God’s faithfulness amid our problems. God’s presence produces peace. He continues,
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
We need the peace of God. The original word for guard here is a military term for guarding a city. That’s power. The struggle is real, but God’s peace is standing guard. The battle may rage on, but we’re not alone. He is with us.
In this thing we call a relationship with God, I think sometimes we expect God to do all the work. We pray and want an instant miracle. God loves to involve us. Sometimes we have a role to play. Peace comes not only through prayer but also action. We must be careful what we allow into our minds. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, but garbage in, garbage out. We can’t put fear in and expect to get peace out.
I have a friend who was constantly living in a state of fear after watching cable news. He heard about this and that and was filled with fear, anxiety, and worry. One day he told me he was going to shut it off for a week. A few days later, he couldn’t believe the difference it made in his life. It reminds me of the rest of our Scripture reading:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Think about good things. Here’s the wild thing about my friend…after testifying to the peace and freedom he had from shutting off TV news, he dove back into it and resumed his worry and anxiety.
Media has a tremendous influence on us. It’s everywhere. It’s powerful. When I spend even a few minutes watching the news, I get discouraged. Fear creeps up whenever I start doomscrolling (hence its name). Here’s what to do instead:
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. (Philippians 4:9)
Practice that which is true. We experience God’s peace when we pause, pray, praise, and pay attention to the truth found in the Bible rather than feasting on fake news and filler that produces fear. We don’t just get peace from God. We get the God of peace!
Media can be addictive, but the remedy is not to try harder. It’s finding an alternative to the junk. Take a walk. Breathe in the fresh air. Admire God’s creation all around. Reflect upon the changing of seasons. Read a good book. Hug a friend. Study the Scriptures. Sing a song. Here’s a song lyric from the book of Isaiah:
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
During life’s storms and chaos, God can bring us His sustaining peace and presence. Our minds can be steadfast because they remain God-focused. It doesn’t mean you’ll never deal with fear, grief, anxiety, or uncertainty. Those are all part of being human. Peace isn’t faking it or masking it, but knowing God is with you even when you’re in the struggle. Anxiety is not an absence of faith, but it can be an invitation to turn to the one who promises to never leave or forsake you, Jesus Christ. He once told his friends,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
You may be thinking, “Great, but Jesus isn’t here. I’d be fine if he was sitting next to me.” While Jesus is not here in the flesh, the Holy Spirit is present in the life of every Christian. God lives in us!
But the of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a)
This is the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us as we meditate on God’s Word, worship, pray, fill our minds with the good stuff, and surrender to the LORD.
It’s natural to let our circumstances dictate our feelings. We all want to be happy. But like joy, peace is not dependent upon our situation. It has everything to do with the object of our focus. Prayer, right thinking, and practicing what is true are important habits and rhythms, but peace is not something we achieve, but something we receive.
We are just weeks away from the beginning of Advent, the season of Christmas, the celebration of the Messiah’s birth. One of the ancient prophecies of Christ from Isaiah, written centuries before the first Christmas, says,
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Prince of shalom, the “sar” of “shalom” which can mean prince or commander, ruler, chief. I often think of a prince as an entitled position, a symbol with limited power, but Jesus is the Ruler who brings true peace. He is the only one who can truly deliver internal rest and peace, making it well with our souls.
Last week we said God promises to be with us…always. We need to look up. Pay attention. Welcome His presence. Welcome His help. Too often we are simply too busy or noisy to pause and look up. I’m embarrassed to say this, but sometimes I forget God. I try to carry the world on my shoulders. King David wrote,
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
He promises!
Jesus’ words sound similar.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
We all have burdens, but we don’t have to carry them alone. Bring them to Jesus. As I said last week, bring them to the Church. Reach out.
When we look up and reach out, things begin to change…for the better.
So What?
Is it well with your soul? For many of you, it is not well with your circumstances. We are all facing challenges of many kinds. Sometimes we pray and wait and wonder if anyone is listening. Does God care? Absolutely!
God promises peace even when our problems persist. We must claim those promises, though. We must pray, think about the good, and practice what is true.
We must pause from our chaos, take a deep breath, invite the Holy Spirit to fill us, and remember God is in control. We’re not! We don’t just get peace from God. We get the God of peace! Whatever you are facing today, look up! Turn your eyes upon Jesus.