Philippians 4: 4-7
Paul has been encouraging us to live our lives according to God's ways, following the pattern He gave us in Jesus and in Paul.
(4) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
When we live this way, giving grace to one another, then we will be able to rejoice in the Lord! We will be able to "practice the presence of God" in our lives continually, and the Joy of the Lord will fill us.
(5) Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Then God's gentle Spirit will show forth in our spirit, so that people will see the difference in us. Our whole attitude and thinking processes will be turned around, and others will see Christ in us. The Lord is near in us, and with us, and will soon come to be King over us.
(6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
So, we don't need to worry or be anxious about any of the chaotic panic that surrounds us; we can be protected from it all, sharing all our concerns and needs with God. Praying and talking with our Daddy about everything will open us up to His embrace as we curl up in His lap!
(7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
That's when the peace of God will overpower the effects of this world on us and we will experience release of stress. His peace, surrounding and permeating our hearts and minds, will be God's bubble shutting it all out. It is incomprehensible to those around us, who are still being battered by the storms; and we won't even understand it, even while we enjoy His sweet presence with us.
O my Father, You are God, You are Creator of everything that is. You know us down to the molecule, and Your love for us is beyond our understanding. Your care for us provides shelter in the storm, provision in our poverty, and protection from attack. You have already met all of our needs: physical, emotional, financial, social, spiritual, and eternal.
O Father, continue to hold us in Your arms, even as You send us out into the world to seek and save the lost. Lead us to Your embryonic children to bring them to the birth into Your family, and open the ears of every living being to hear and understand how You love us all.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come hastily, Lord Jesus!
