Joy, Prayer & Peace
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
We dealt with this passage two weeks ago (check out the sermon if you missed it). But I wanted to remind us again of this timely encouragement from Paul.
A few things I reckon we need to see:
1. Christians pursue joy.
Paul’s exhortation (a very strong encouragement) is for the Philippians to rejoice. This isn’t some sort of instagram branding exercise where we put on a happy face because we truly have so much to rejoice in.
2. Christians can be free of anxiety.
We live in the age of anxiety but we have a path to peace. The answer is to present our cares and concerns to God. He is our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, full of grace and mercy. He cares for His children and He is working all things to the good of those who love Him.
3. Christians can experience true peace
This is what allows us to have true peace. Not because we escape from reality but because our reality gives us confidence. No God? A distant uncaring God? A weak God? These things are no grounds for peace. Instead, our reality brings us peace.
And this is why we can give thanks. Not just on a Friday (for regular Blog readers), but daily and hourly.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father that He is our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, full of grace. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who gives us the right to call on God through His forgiveness. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others find joy and peace as you cast your anxieties on God.
Philippians 4:4-7
We dealt with this passage two weeks ago (check out the sermon if you missed it). But I wanted to remind us again of this timely encouragement from Paul.
A few things I reckon we need to see:
1. Christians pursue joy.
Paul’s exhortation (a very strong encouragement) is for the Philippians to rejoice. This isn’t some sort of instagram branding exercise where we put on a happy face because we truly have so much to rejoice in.
2. Christians can be free of anxiety.
We live in the age of anxiety but we have a path to peace. The answer is to present our cares and concerns to God. He is our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, full of grace and mercy. He cares for His children and He is working all things to the good of those who love Him.
3. Christians can experience true peace
This is what allows us to have true peace. Not because we escape from reality but because our reality gives us confidence. No God? A distant uncaring God? A weak God? These things are no grounds for peace. Instead, our reality brings us peace.
And this is why we can give thanks. Not just on a Friday (for regular Blog readers), but daily and hourly.
For Today:
- Are you rejoicing at what you have in Christ?
- Do you cast your anxieties on God in prayer?
- Do you find peace in the reality of God?
Pray:
Praise the Father that He is our Heavenly Father, Almighty God, full of grace. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who gives us the right to call on God through His forgiveness. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others find joy and peace as you cast your anxieties on God.
Posted in Philippians
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