Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Daily Devotion
By: Diana Couvion
It always amazes me when the verse that I’m given to write a devotion about are the ver verses that I am needing to focus on myself. It proves to me over and over again that God does indeed know what’ I’m going through in every moment of my life. He is so, so good!
A verse in John states a truth about this life that by now, we have all become closely aquatinted with.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The holiday season sometimes has this sneaky way of highlighting and emphasizing situations in our lives that are painful and sad. Events and traditions that once brightened our spirits during this wonderful season now seem to be having the opposite effect. There are many valid reasons why we could be feeling unsettled and lacking peace. God knows and understands the concerns of man. Even so, he loves us so much that he desires for us to not linger in a place of sadness but to instead root and ground ourselves in joy and optimism. Like a loving Father, he asks us to draw closer to him so we can receive the peace and love that we so need and desire.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
If you are feeling a lack of peace in your life, if situations are being thrown in your direction and you feel powerless to stop the barrage of negative thoughts surfacing in your mind, the Bible tells us exactly what to do to feel peace again. He wants us to share with him what is bothering us so he can take the worry away. He wants us to pray and thank him for what is going right, and then with thanks and faith, tell him what we are in need of. Stop, pray, thank, ask. t’s an amazing formula that will get your mind focused on the goodness of God.
We do have a responsibility, regardless of what is happening around us, to control our thoughts. As the book of John stated, God has already overcome the world and our problems, so we have to train our minds to think on good things and have the mindset of a child whose father just solved all of their complicated issues.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
If you find yourself getting stuck in a reoccurring habit of negative thinking and anxiousness, remind yourself that you don’t have to remain there. Take a few minutes to pray as Philippians 4:6 tells us to, and then read Philippians 4:8 focusing your thoughts on things that are honest, just, pure, lovely and of a good report. Do this everyday if you must until a new habit of thinking on the right things is made. The battle of the mind is one of the hardest battles we will fight. Remember, we don’t fight alone and or without weapons. God has already laid out the battle plan in order for us to be victorious.
Even in the midst of trials, be of good cheer. Know that your God has already overcome the world and all its trouble.