Doesn’t it give you a warm feeling when someone you love says, “I’ve been thinking about you”? Have you considered the fact that God thinks about you? God is thinking about peace for your life. When one lives life close to God he can know inner peace in the midst of outer storms in life. Paul in Philippians chapter 4 urges us to rejoice always. It may seem impossible to rejoice when our child has rebelled or our boss has been unfair or our spouse has been unfaithful, but notice that God didn’t say, “rejoice about everything”. He tells us to “rejoice always”. In other words, rejoice during the good and the bad. We have all seen or maybe experienced individuals running to the storm cellar to avoid the destruction of a tornado. Being in the cellar doesn’t stop the storm but it does provide safety in the midst of the storm. In’t that cellar something to rejoice in? When we live each moment at peace with God we have a safe haven. A peace that surpasses understanding”, even in the midst of stormy times. He won’t take away all the pain and the disappointment, but the things that matter most He can and will protect.
What can we do in order to have this joy and peace even in the midst of storms? Let’s look at the 4 chapter of Philippians and see!
1. BE JOYFUL (v.4) Look for reasons to rejoice. God’s people aren’t pessimists but have the greatest reason to be optimists!
2. BE DISCIPLINED (v.5) Calm, godly reactions will make any situation better. Vengeance is the Lord’s (Rom 12:19). Lhing under God’s control means that even in the midst of the storms our actions are righteous which empowers us to know His peace. When we lose it four temper), we lose more than a temper, we lose the peace of God.
3. BE CONFIDENT (v.5-6) Remaining under God’s control builds confidence because we know that God is with us. In spite of the storm, those who react with God’s wisdom know that God is still near them. They know that they can take it all to Him in prayer. This is the way to avoid anxiety. God can handle it!
4. BE GUARDED (v.7) We all need protection. Living in the peace of God offers understanding we could never know on our own Knowledge is power. Godly knowledge is a powerful protection of our heart and mind. The greatest peace dwells here. Are you allowing God to guard? JOY and PEACE are characteristics of the holiday season and of a Christian, GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU AND THERE IS PEACE IN HIM WHICH WILL GIVE YOU GREAT JOY!