"Protect Your Peace" | Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley I October 4, 2026

Main message: The peace God gives is the essential resource for living and performing well; Paul’s prescription in Philippians 4 teaches how to protect that peace so it can guard your heart and mind.

Key points:

• Peace is more valuable than money or fame — protect the thing that produces your peace (illustrated by the stolen goat/Thoroughbred story).
• Paul’s prescription: rejoice (the joy-filled salutation "chairo"), be anxious for nothing, pray and make supplication, and give thanks.
• Prayer is more than vending‑machine asking — sit in God’s presence, ask boldly for what you need, and bring supplication.
• Guard your mind by focusing on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy; stop giving attention to petty, negative, or toxic things.
• Practice boundaries: don’t carry others’ baggage, don’t lose sleep arguing, and remember to give thanks for God’s past faithfulness.

Scriptures mentioned: Philippians 4:4-8, Philippians 4, Acts 16, James 4, Hebrews 4