Tag: Peace

Nuggets of Joy, Peace, and Perseverance

Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Have you read Philippians? Oh my goodness it is chock full of some amazing verses about joy and peace and perseverance. It is only 4 short chapters and fills up just 12 pages in my study Bible but it sooo good. Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote this letter to the church that he started in Philippi. Did you read that…Paul was IN PRISON and his letter was about joy and peace and perseverance?

Clearly Paul’s joy does not come from his outward circumstances but from his inward strength. Strength that he gets from being filled with the Holy Spirit and having a relationship with Christ. In fact, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all THIS through him who gives me strength.” That doesn’t mean God will give him supernatural strength to escape from prison or single handedly conquer the Romans or even convince the prison guards to let him go. It means with or without earthly things, Paul will have the strength to do THIS. And what is THIS you ask?  It is to persevere in his mission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

You may not be in prison like Paul, but it is super easy to be discouraged about your circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. Would you like to worry less like Paul?  Would you like to have strength like Paul? I’ve got the answer for you. Pray more. Worship more. I saw a meme that my dad posted this week on social media, and it made the answer so clear to me.  It said:

Worship can get you through

the roughest times in your life

because it shifts your focus

from the problem

to the problem solver.

True peace comes from knowing God is in control. When you believe that, I mean truly believe that God has a plan and is in control, it will guard your mind from worry and anxiety. Like Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I know, easy to say but hard to do. So, I encourage you to give it a try this week. Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray, worship, and read (or reread) Philippians. Search for the nuggets of joy, peace, and perseverance that Paul is sharing in this letter and imagine it was written specifically for you. Your week will be so much better for it. It was for me, for today I have joy.

Lord God, thank you for the words you gave us through your servant Paul. Words that are meant to guide us to a strong personal relationship with you. Keep my eyes focused on the strength that you give me and not my earthly circumstances. Amen

My Prayer Today

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he as done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I did not know what to share with you today in Simply Said Devotions and I was worried about that.  So, I decided to do what Paul said in Philippians 4:6. I decided to pray about it through my journaling. After I finished, I realized this is what Jesus wanted me to share with you.  This is was my journal entry.

Dear Lord,

I do not know what to write about. I am overwhelmed by how the people in this world are acting. I know there are good and Godly people out there because I encounter them every day, but I feel like their voices are not the voices that people can hear. The voice of conflict and controversy is the voice that resonates throughout our land right now. Arguing and unrest seems to be what people are drawn to. Rumors and untruths are more fun to discuss than peace and love.

Who are these people at the root of it? Who finds pleasure in stirring up the masses? I just do not understand it. Lord, I ask you to silence them. I ask you to make your glory known to the unbelievers so that they come to know that you are in control. So that they come to know that there is only ONE that can the king of my heart and soul. Shine a light on the fools and open our eyes so that their words are seen for what they are – empty lies.

Thank you for the peace that you promise all who bring you into their hearts. Thank you for the unconditional love that you show your people and thank you for walking next to me every day, even when I am not intentionally walking with you.

Peace be with you. Amen.

When you are worried and unsure how to proceed, take it to Jesus. When you are scared and cannot make a decision, take it to Jesus. When you are depressed and do not want to get up, take it to Jesus. Jesus himself has experienced every human emotion that you feel because he was a human too. Knowing that He is there for you is very comforting. Really, it’s everything to me.

Lord, thank you for being an ever-present help when I am in need. Thank you for being the voice of reason in my head and for providing me with peace in my heart. You are everything to me. Amen.