"Blessed are the Mothers who love to fight life's battles bravely with a strong and steadfast faith in God,
for their children shall know where to find strength in time of need."

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Peace be with you

I just meditated on these verses earlier.  We have so many challenges and trials these days and we need to stay focused on what God has commanded us. 

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

 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.
 8 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. 9 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. 

These are commands from the Lord. They are meant to be taken to heart and strictly followed.

To "rejoice" is to feel joy; to experience gladness in a high degree; to have pleasurable satisfaction; to be delighted. Yes we rejoice whenever we receive blessings, when our prayers are answered and we have everything we need.  But God said, rejoice in every situation even in times of troubles.

"Gentleness" is not only to be mild or soft, amiable or tender.  It means having patience in all situation by trusting God no matter what. (I must admit that I am really struggling to be gentle!) Gentleness means knowing how to wait patiently upon God's perfect timing and then we will be closer to Him.

So we should pray with thanksgiving all the time, focus on things that are pleasing to His sight and peace that solely comes from Him will be with us.

Below are some inspiring thoughts and biblical principles from Matthew J. Slick of Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.

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Peace of mind is something that we all want.  We all want to be able to rest, to not have to worry, to feel free to enjoy life, family, friends, work, church, hobbies, entertainment, etc.  We want to be able to enjoy ourselves and not be burdened down with worries that rob us of vigor, life, and purpose.

Sometimes when we can't find peace of mind, we get depressed.  We often get angry and lash out at God or someone else near to you.

What do you do to get peace?  I mean real peace in your life.  Where do you start? What do you do?

Well, the best place to start is with God.

  1. God wants you to have true peace by having you not worry - about anything (act of thinking)
    1. Worry is sin.  It means you are not trusting in God.
    2. God says in verse 6, "Do not be anxious about anything."  That means don't worry.  The word for "anxious" in the Greek here means to be troubled with cares
    3. He hasn't given you that command without you being able to carry it out.
      1. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch forth your hand" (Mark 3:5)
        1. But the man could not -- yet He obeyed and did it!
      2. Because the Holy Spirit is in you, you are able to live by faith, and not worry... no matter what happens.  Because the Spirit empowers you to be faithful, to trust, to yield to the Lord's will.
      3. With the Spirit you are able to trust God beyond your ability to know what will happen in your life.
    4. Matthew 6:25,27,31-34 ~ 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'  32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.
    5. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety (same word) on him because he cares for you. (NIV)
    6. John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me. (NIV)
    7. God doesn't want you to worry because worry means you do not trust God, that you are not taking Him fully at His word. 
  2. God wants you to have true peace by praying - about everything (act of doing)
    1. v. 6 "But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
    2. All things in your life are of concern to God
      1. The big and the small: where to move, who to marry, what job to get, even your hobbies, and leisure times.
    3. The peace that God gives you will guard your minds.
    4. The peace that God gives you will strengthen you.
    5. Because of the cross you have access to the throne of God.
      1. which is why it says "with thanksgiving," because of the cross, the proof of God's faithfulness.
      2. In the presence of God there is peace.
      3. Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
      4. Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
      5. Practice the presence of God - pray!
        1. In prayer you are transformed
        2. By praying you will intern want to think about holy things. That is why... (next point)
  3. God wants you to have true peace by meditating on what is holy (act of thinking)
    1. Your minds have been set free from slavery to sin.
      1. Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (NIV)
    2. God wants you to fill your heart with what is good.
      1. Phil. 4:8, "whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent worthy of praise.  Let your mind dwell on these things." (NASB)
    3. God wants you to think, to meditate on truth, purity, and excellence.
      1. Psalm 119:78 "...I will meditate on your precepts."
      2. The precepts of God, the Word of God, is truth, purity, and excellence.
      3. Meditate on the Word of God so that you might be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
  4. God wants you to have true peace by putting into practice what you have learned. (act of doing)
    1. He wants you to...
      1. trust Him for everything
        1. Philippians 4:6a "Don't be anxious for anything."
      2. pray to Him for anything
        1. Philippians 4:6b "but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (NIV)
      3. meditate on what is holy
        1. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, 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. (NIV)
Conclusion
These things are written to you so that the God of peace will be with you.  Not simply peace... but the God of peace will be with you.  Ultimately this is about God dwelling with you.  He wants you to be holy, pure, right.  Will you trust Him and not worry?  Will you pray about everything in your life? Will you meditate on the Word of God?  And finally, will you practice, will you do, what God calls you to do?
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