Day 1: Read Philippians Chapter 4
Life's struggles can be overwhelming and will often fill us with despair. It is time to lift our eyes to our Maker and stand firm in the Lord. He made us in his image of strength. We have an outward gentleness and love for the world with an inner strength of perseverance because Christ is living within us. This is our hope and joy for the future, an eternity with Him. God gives us clear instructions not to be anxious but to pray. Many of us tend to worry, and that is our first reaction to a problem rising. Being anxious is not God's plan for us. He will take on those burdens for us if we allow him to. Philippians 4 says to rejoice and show our gentleness to others. It then tells us not to be anxious but to pray, be thankful, and bring our requests to the Lord. In doing so, we can have joy and peace that transcend all understanding.
We can have His peace and joy despite our circumstances because God is faithful and comes through for us. God made us to be emotional beings. However, many times we will allow unhealthy emotions to simmer. Most of us are also on a constant hunt for comfort and happiness. While happiness is a fleeting emotion, joy can be found in Christ, regardless of our situation. He uses those difficult seasons to bring us closer to Him. Managing our thoughts and what we dwell on is the key to finding that unending joy. Philippians states to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
We need the God of peace to be with us. As the word tells us in Philippians 4, pray, guard your heart, and replace the anxious and worrisome thoughts. When struggles arise and negative thoughts creep into your mind, pray and immediately shift your thoughts to things that are of God. They are pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. This is a practical way to find joy in Christ today, regardless of your circumstances.
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