Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4: 4-8 NLT)
As we go through life these days, we find ourselves seemingly, constantly confronted with either news of evil conduct or personal experiences that provoke anger, fear, or just disbelief. It has become harder and harder to find instances of kindness and thoughts that generate peace of mind or heart. If you are like me, as I view the evening news or read today’s news article on the Internet, it becomes more challenging each day to maintain joy, and peace of heart and mind. Sooner than later I am reminded of Psalms 119:165 which says, Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble(NLT). That is when I turn to God’s Word and find instructions such as those quoted above in Philippians 4.
God has promised us peace of mind and heart but has also asked us to do something in response to His commitment to us. I find myself wandering off into the weeds of life most often when I take my attention or focus from God’s instructions and promised presence. It is only when I forget to rejoice or have joy in the salvation that was provided through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that joy is misplaced. The Scriptures encourage believers to not be anxious and to pray or communicate to God about everything. The implication is that there is no need to worry if we run to God instead of away from Him.
Only through rejoicing in the relationship that is ours with God, can we move on to His next instruction to not worry. When we realize that God has already solved our greatest problem of the forgiveness of our sins are we able to perceive that any and everything else pales in comparison to God’s restoration of mankind to fellowship and family. This realization will allow you to experience God’s presence and peace. The peace provided by our relationship of love, through Jesus, will guard our hearts and minds against the attack of Satan who desires to steal from, kill, and destroy mankind.
Finally, we are instructed to think about things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. You may say that these things are many times very difficult to find in our environment. I believe that rejoicing in the Lord and being ever aware of God’s promised presence makes this task possible and probable. By focusing on what God has, is, and will do for us, in us, and through us, we can and will experience His peace. Isaiah 26: 3-4 says, You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Rejoice in the Lord; do not worry. Pray and trust God to be faithful to His Word.
Sacred Covenant Ministries 