Philippians 4:4-8 (HCSB)
4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5) Let your graciousness be know to everyone. The Lord is near.
6) Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7) And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8) Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things.
I am probably going to camp out here a bit (few days) as otherwise my almost always 3 pages will be ridiculous!!! I can't seem to stop! Thank you so much for taking the time to go on this Journey His Way with me. I pray that God is revealing Himself through His Word to You.
This is one of my favorite passages. It is so packed full of truths! Father God, help me to truly 'grasp' the principles for living in these verses. So an overview from my perspective.
Some key words...rejoice, always, graciousness (gentleness), Lord, near, everything, through prayer, petition, thanksgiving, requests, made known, God, peace, surpasses, thought, guard, hearts, minds, in Christ Jesus, whatever, true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, moral excellence, praise, dwell on. Ok, I know I picked very nearly every word as a key word - so I struggle with narrowing :-) But seriously, how do you jump over any one of these words! And do I even know how to do an overview - guess we will see...probably not!
What I notice most about this passage is the action involves me. I must take steps, no one else can do for me. And not only that but I must recognize that the Lord is near, He wants to hear my thoughts, requests, fears, worries, passion, all of it. He does! Not only do I need to take action, but He commands it. For each of us. But oh, what rewards, His peace that surpasses every thought, all understanding. Did you notice that His peace not only comes but it guards our hearts and our minds! Huge! Then in that guarding He helps us dwell on right thoughts!!!! My action, yet His strength! His work! I love how this passage progresses step by step.
Rejoice. What a word. Rejoice - chairo - a verb, used as an imperative, to be glad. But we can't stop at the word rejoice or be glad. Because then it would simply be all in our own strength, our own wills. It DOES NOT SAY TO REJOICE in the circumstances, in the trials, in the pain, even in the good things...It DOES SAY TO REJOICE IN THE LORD! Rejoice in the Lord! In Him and in Him alone! He is to be our focus! So often I want to jump past that fact. Oh, I want the peace, I want to give Him all my anxious thoughts etc...but I am missing too much. I must rejoice in Him, see Him and His bigness, then the things of this life grow smaller! Focus on Him brings gladness, relief, peace. He then makes me gentle...why? Because He is near! He is always near the difference comes when I focus on Him I recognize His nearness and then He can affect change in me and in my responses to those around me! Finally, think on whatever is true, noble, pure, etc...well, again that is Him! He is truth! Him. Think on Him. God knows that in our humanness we are gonna dwell! But to chose to dwell on Him therein lies the peace that passes understanding, the ability to rejoice and be glad, in HIM!!!
Father God, thank You for the TRUTH of Your Word! For the practicality of it. May we choose, may I choose, to apply it. May I rejoice in You and stop making excuses. Stop dwelling on things that are not of You. To recognize Your nearness, to give You every thought, emotion etc...and then receive from You the peace that is beyond comprehension! Thank You for Your amazing provision in the dailyness of our lives! Remind us that we have much to rejoice in You. When we get distracted, remind us again and again. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your gentleness, Your provision... For YOU, Jesus!
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