SCRIPTURE: 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. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
THOUGHT: If you ever had a day where you needed a double dose of promises, you’ll like today because 1) God is near to you, and 2) the peace his presence brings is beyond your understanding, but when you turn your anxieties over to God, with gratitude, that peace will guard your heart and mind. Simple, right?
I set out this morning to find a promise that would be so encouraging for us that we breathe a sigh of relief and stride out into the day with joy – but, honestly, that signals the state of my heart. The news is so incredibly bad that some of the things I am concerned about literally get pushed out of my consciousness when another comes flowing in. This one I love is sick. That one is far from God. I had a disagreement with that one and it hurts. Our country is like a city without walls. Strange ideas and circumstances flood our public and private institutions and the water rises. The world powers are unpredictable and in conflict. And on the list goes….
No matter, because there comes Paul (who suffered violence, condemnation, imprisonments, infighting, hunger, and other indignities) calmly saying, “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” – promising God is near, and joy and peace can be ours. Paul knows this because he needed it and it was delivered. Mystery. Miracle.
Rejoice in the Lord. God is near to you. Bring your anxieties to him, and with gratitude, leave them there. Your peace, not the world’s, has been purchased and promised. Your gentleness can be evident to others – not because you aren’t tough or strong, but because you are at peace.
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for these promises, honed and tested in the fires of adversity. Take my anxiety and let me feel the joy of letting you be God today.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
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