Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 4:4-7 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Verse 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Verse 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Verse 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Devotion
Rejoicing focused in the Lord is perpetual, not episodic or seasonal. More than urging a rejoicing about the Lord, the rejoicing is done in the presence of the Lord. In the Lord is where we can safely rejoice. Rejoicing is not a naïve denial of hardship. Nor is it slapping a happy face on every moment of the day.
Rejoicing in the Lord takes the shape of being gentle to everyone because the Lord is near and present. Rejoicing in the Lord can be living without anxiety because God is not distant. God attends to prayers and supplications and thus rejoicing includes making known our requests to God.
And, the call to rejoice always in the Lord is guarded by the peace of God. When hearts are disturbed and joy muted, the peace of God generates rejoicing. When our minds reach their limits, the peace of God quiets our anxiety and makes room for rejoicing.
Prayer
God, grant us your peace and quiet our hearts and minds so that we may flourish in rejoicing. Amen.
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