Joyful Living Devotional - Day 36
Day 36 - This Is How You Do It! – Part 1
Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT) 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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.
Paul does not simply point out the challenges facing the church in Philippi; he so eloquently weaves the solution into the challenges through the Holy Spirit. He knows there are things in the church that need to be addressed. He doesn’t dance around the issues or even the names of those responsible. He encourages the church to get along, specifically Euodia and Syntyche. He mentions people by name who have been a blessing: Timothy, Epaphroditus, Clement, and maybe Syzygus. He warns against and exposes both extremes of wrong and even dangerous teachings, such as mixing grace and law, or using freedom as a cover for evil desires.
He warns, encourages, appeals, corrects, and instructs. He urges them to be like Christ and even to follow his example. For Paul, love is not at stake; his love for the church is evident, and his gratitude is constant. What is evident about this apostle of Jesus is that he deeply cares for the Philippians and carries them constantly on his heart. Paul does not instruct them as if he were the lecturer and they were the students. His instructions are more like those of a father to his children, teaching them about God’s faithfulness (Isa. 38:19b ESV: "the father makes known to the children your faithfulness"). He calls them his crown and joy, like a grandfather with his grandchildren (Prov. 17:6 ASV: "Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers").
Paul instructs them on what to do, how to do it, and the motive for it, which is the love of Christ. How do you do all of this? How do you continue being faithful and fruitful for God’s kingdom? What does it look like when there is unity in community as we work out our differences? With what attitude should we face adversity and trials?
This is how you do it!
First and foremost, let Jesus be the source and reason for your joy. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT). Find and keep your joy in Christ. When Christ is our joy, our joy cannot change because He is forever seated on the throne. When He is the reason and motivation for our joy, our joy will always be full. Just in case you missed it, rejoice!
“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”
– S. D. Gordon
Secondly, be considerate in all you do, keeping your eye on the Lord’s return. “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:5 NLT). This is consideration with accountability, consideration that keeps the Lord’s coming in view. We are considerate because we know we all have to give an account. This is not acting right because we fear punishment; this is doing what is right because we have the greatest model to follow, Christ. Our joy comes from Him, and our consideration is because of Him.
The third distinct quality to live out and to be a representative of the heavenly kingdom is not to worry but to pray: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6a NLT). You can worry, or you can pray. Paul says, "Pray!" There is nothing worth worrying about, because worrying cannot solve or alleviate any problem; it only makes it worse. Worry is punishment; it is faith in the wrong direction. Worry is the artist who paints only the storm, never the sunshine. Worry is like an unseen, internal termite that gnaws away our confidence in God. Worry gives no hope, tells no truth, and is never content. Worry is the constant negative of an unknown future. Paul says that joyful living is not only not worrying, but taking those worries in prayer to the only One who can change the predicted future of a worried heart. You can worry, or you can pray. Paul recommends praying!
The fourth principle for living joyfully and fruitfully is to “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Phillipians 4:6b NLT). It is a prayer with an addendum. Instead of worrying, pray. Tell the Lord what you need, but when you pray, let gratitude be the banner of your prayer. One of the first things we, as parents, try to instill in our children is gratitude. When they ask for something, we teach, “Say please,” and when they receive something, we teach, “Say thank you.” Please and thank you are as foundational to raising respectful little humans as gratitude itself. How much more should we be grateful for all that the Lord has done for us! Gratitude shapes our perspective, shifting it from what is wrong to what is right. The world is filled with pain, yet God is still good. Life may be unfair and marked by partiality, but God is just. We might not always be able to rejoice over what we are experiencing, but we can surely rejoice over what we have received because of Christ.
Prayer and petition should always be accompanied by gratitude. Our gratitude is not contingent on perfect circumstances or a perfect record of answered prayer; it is grounded in who our Father is and in what we have already received through Jesus Christ, namely eternal life and becoming a son or daughter of God. We have already received more than we could ever say thank you for, so we can ask with confidence and thank the Lord with deep joy and reverence. The result or fruit of rejoicing, being considerate, and not worrying but praying with a heart of gratitude produces something no money in the world can ever buy: God’s peace.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT) 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.
A peace beyond natural understanding. This is not a moment of peace in a chaotic world. This is not a reprieve that ends when you have to worry again. This is not a temporary station in life; it is a permanent dwelling. This peace is neither mine nor yours; it is the very peace of God. God’s peace is not a tranquil feeling or a fleeting moment of escape. It is a strong army, a garrison around your heart and mind. It takes captive thoughts of anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief, and the “ifs” in your heart and mind. When anxiety prophesies doom and destruction and haunts us like a blazing fire, peace pours out the water of the Word to extinguish the blaze. This peace comes as a result of your union with Christ Jesus. Draw close to Him, and peace will be your guard.
Like a father to his children, Paul writes to the Philippians, inspired by the Holy Spirit, through the reed pen onto the papyrus, straight into their hearts: “This is how you live together in harmony and love one another joyfully. Always be full of the joy of Jesus. Repeat as necessary. Knowing that the Lord is coming, let consideration be evident to all. Worry is useless; prayer is essential. Choose prayer over worry by trusting God with all your needs and thanking Him for all He has done. Then peace will guard you as you abide in Christ, your Lord.”
“There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God's favor to them in life, through death and on forever.”
– J.I. Packer
Our joy comes from Jesus, our consideration is because of Jesus, we take our worries to Jesus, and we are forever grateful for Jesus. Living in these four attitudes of the heart gives us the power to endure and to live every day joyfully, whether it is a good day or a hard day, because Jesus is our source of peace. Paul would say: “This is how you do it!”
Prayer:
Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT) 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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.
Paul does not simply point out the challenges facing the church in Philippi; he so eloquently weaves the solution into the challenges through the Holy Spirit. He knows there are things in the church that need to be addressed. He doesn’t dance around the issues or even the names of those responsible. He encourages the church to get along, specifically Euodia and Syntyche. He mentions people by name who have been a blessing: Timothy, Epaphroditus, Clement, and maybe Syzygus. He warns against and exposes both extremes of wrong and even dangerous teachings, such as mixing grace and law, or using freedom as a cover for evil desires.
He warns, encourages, appeals, corrects, and instructs. He urges them to be like Christ and even to follow his example. For Paul, love is not at stake; his love for the church is evident, and his gratitude is constant. What is evident about this apostle of Jesus is that he deeply cares for the Philippians and carries them constantly on his heart. Paul does not instruct them as if he were the lecturer and they were the students. His instructions are more like those of a father to his children, teaching them about God’s faithfulness (Isa. 38:19b ESV: "the father makes known to the children your faithfulness"). He calls them his crown and joy, like a grandfather with his grandchildren (Prov. 17:6 ASV: "Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers").
Paul instructs them on what to do, how to do it, and the motive for it, which is the love of Christ. How do you do all of this? How do you continue being faithful and fruitful for God’s kingdom? What does it look like when there is unity in community as we work out our differences? With what attitude should we face adversity and trials?
This is how you do it!
First and foremost, let Jesus be the source and reason for your joy. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT). Find and keep your joy in Christ. When Christ is our joy, our joy cannot change because He is forever seated on the throne. When He is the reason and motivation for our joy, our joy will always be full. Just in case you missed it, rejoice!
“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”
– S. D. Gordon
Secondly, be considerate in all you do, keeping your eye on the Lord’s return. “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:5 NLT). This is consideration with accountability, consideration that keeps the Lord’s coming in view. We are considerate because we know we all have to give an account. This is not acting right because we fear punishment; this is doing what is right because we have the greatest model to follow, Christ. Our joy comes from Him, and our consideration is because of Him.
The third distinct quality to live out and to be a representative of the heavenly kingdom is not to worry but to pray: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6a NLT). You can worry, or you can pray. Paul says, "Pray!" There is nothing worth worrying about, because worrying cannot solve or alleviate any problem; it only makes it worse. Worry is punishment; it is faith in the wrong direction. Worry is the artist who paints only the storm, never the sunshine. Worry is like an unseen, internal termite that gnaws away our confidence in God. Worry gives no hope, tells no truth, and is never content. Worry is the constant negative of an unknown future. Paul says that joyful living is not only not worrying, but taking those worries in prayer to the only One who can change the predicted future of a worried heart. You can worry, or you can pray. Paul recommends praying!
The fourth principle for living joyfully and fruitfully is to “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Phillipians 4:6b NLT). It is a prayer with an addendum. Instead of worrying, pray. Tell the Lord what you need, but when you pray, let gratitude be the banner of your prayer. One of the first things we, as parents, try to instill in our children is gratitude. When they ask for something, we teach, “Say please,” and when they receive something, we teach, “Say thank you.” Please and thank you are as foundational to raising respectful little humans as gratitude itself. How much more should we be grateful for all that the Lord has done for us! Gratitude shapes our perspective, shifting it from what is wrong to what is right. The world is filled with pain, yet God is still good. Life may be unfair and marked by partiality, but God is just. We might not always be able to rejoice over what we are experiencing, but we can surely rejoice over what we have received because of Christ.
Prayer and petition should always be accompanied by gratitude. Our gratitude is not contingent on perfect circumstances or a perfect record of answered prayer; it is grounded in who our Father is and in what we have already received through Jesus Christ, namely eternal life and becoming a son or daughter of God. We have already received more than we could ever say thank you for, so we can ask with confidence and thank the Lord with deep joy and reverence. The result or fruit of rejoicing, being considerate, and not worrying but praying with a heart of gratitude produces something no money in the world can ever buy: God’s peace.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT) 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.
A peace beyond natural understanding. This is not a moment of peace in a chaotic world. This is not a reprieve that ends when you have to worry again. This is not a temporary station in life; it is a permanent dwelling. This peace is neither mine nor yours; it is the very peace of God. God’s peace is not a tranquil feeling or a fleeting moment of escape. It is a strong army, a garrison around your heart and mind. It takes captive thoughts of anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief, and the “ifs” in your heart and mind. When anxiety prophesies doom and destruction and haunts us like a blazing fire, peace pours out the water of the Word to extinguish the blaze. This peace comes as a result of your union with Christ Jesus. Draw close to Him, and peace will be your guard.
Like a father to his children, Paul writes to the Philippians, inspired by the Holy Spirit, through the reed pen onto the papyrus, straight into their hearts: “This is how you live together in harmony and love one another joyfully. Always be full of the joy of Jesus. Repeat as necessary. Knowing that the Lord is coming, let consideration be evident to all. Worry is useless; prayer is essential. Choose prayer over worry by trusting God with all your needs and thanking Him for all He has done. Then peace will guard you as you abide in Christ, your Lord.”
“There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God's favor to them in life, through death and on forever.”
– J.I. Packer
Our joy comes from Jesus, our consideration is because of Jesus, we take our worries to Jesus, and we are forever grateful for Jesus. Living in these four attitudes of the heart gives us the power to endure and to live every day joyfully, whether it is a good day or a hard day, because Jesus is our source of peace. Paul would say: “This is how you do it!”
Prayer:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of Jesus.
- Take a moment to reflect on your level of consideration and pray honestly about what needs to change. “Lord, give me a considerate mind and heart that will place others before myself and honor You.”
- Bring all your worries and anxieties and place them before the Lord. Pray about any need you have and thank the Lord for His goodness and grace.
Posted in Joyful Living Devotional