Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
In Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, a church Paul established on one of his missionary journeys, Paul lets the Philippians know how he believes they should act and think. Anxiety according to a couple sources (National Institute of Mental Health & World Health Organization) is a problem that is increasing, especially in young people ages 10 to 24. Looking at those statistics is enough to make a person feel a bit anxious!! Fortunately, Paul has given us a blueprint for dealing with anxiety. And if you are like me, it is good to remind ourselves of the steps Paul gives us.
First, rejoice in the Lord always! That doesn’t mean everything is always wonderful in our lives. It is an act of faith, a declaration that God is good, sovereign, and present no matter how our circumstances appear. Secondly, be gentle and reasonable with everyone! Maybe a difficult command in our world today! However, could we try to be fair, patient, kind, and not try to win every argument or control every situation? We have a choice in how we behave towards others. Third, use prayer with thanksgiving instead of worry and share your requests with God. Trust that God knows our needs and has promised that He will always be with us.(Matthew 28:20, Joshua 1:9, & Isaiah 41:10) Instead of carrying the load of worry ourselves, we need to turn it over to our Father in heaven in whom we choose to trust with our cares and concerns. And remember to thank the Lord for His past faithfulness. Gratitude changes our perspective.
Imagine never being anxious about anything! Is it really possible? Paul says yes. If we can do those steps, then Paul says there is a promise of peace. God’s peace is one which will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God’s peace does not come from having control—it comes from surrender.
We want to be able to fix things, stop the pain, or understand why something happened. God’s peace is the assurance that even when we can’t see or explain what He’s doing, we can trust His character. He is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do.
Finally Paul emphasizes that how a Christian thinks – how we frame our attitude – is crucial to living a Christian life. The world encourages us to fixate on controversies and fears, but Paul invites us to look for what is good and praiseworthy. We don’t ignore problems or pretend everything is okay, but it does mean to refuse to let negativity and conflict consume us.
Questions for Reflection:
- What fears, concerns, or worries do you have today?
- Have you prayed and presented your requests to God?
- Have you put into practice what you have learned from Philippians 4:4-9?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for always being with us, even when we sometimes doubt. Help us to rejoice in you always and be gentle to all. When we start to worry, guide and help us to pray instead. Amen.
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