E100 Bible Reading Challenge: Letters to the Early Church: Rejoice in the Lord (84)

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

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Give Peace a Chance

KEY THOUGHT

We can have peace even in the midst of life’s problems.

OVERVIEW

We can experience peace in the midst of the problems of life. How does Paul say to do that? It requires three conscious decisions. The first is the decision to rejoice whether you feel like it or not (4.4). The focus of our rejoicing is the Lord, not our circumstances. The second decision is to pray (4.6). The third is to focus on positive things (4.8). When we’re

overwhelmed with the negative, it helps to remember God’s goodness. Rejoice, pray, focus on the positive.

CHALLENGE

ARE YOU WILLING TO EXCHANGE YOUR ANXIETY FOR GOD’S PEACE?