7 day plan

A week with the Philippians

Day 3 of 7

NIV

Philippians 4:6-7

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection:  A Philippian believer: “How can we not be anxious when our lives are in danger because we are following Jesus?

“And if we are all thanking God and asking him to respond to our requests, how can he possibly listen to all of us talking with him, at the same time? It isn’t easy to understand – in fact, it boggles my mind. I can only hear what one person is saying at a time!

“But if I try to think about who God is,  what he is like, and what he is capable of, maybe I’ll understand better.  Before God created the world, time as we know it didn’t exist. So, if God is sovereign and all-knowing, then hearing us and answering us when we cry out to him is not a problem for him; he is not limited by ‘time’ as we are.  Of course he can listen to millions of people praying at once!  He knows everything! And how amazing we can bring everything to God, nothing is too large, or too small for him – he wants to hear us. I still struggle to understand this – no one in my household has ever treated me like that before, let alone the God of the universe.

“Peace is hard to understand too. What is God’s peace? What does it look like, what does it feel like? How can our hearts and minds be guarded in Christ Jesus? As I think over the letter, I realise this may mean we are safe in Christ, because Jesus died in our place, and because absolutely nothing can come between God and us. What we have is not just a feeling of peace, but the reality that we have been made at peace with God!  Our peace is guarded by God in the same way a palace guard ensures the safety of the people he has been entrusted with – keeping out anyone who is not meant to enter. We can actually be at peace while we struggle and suffer because of Jesus. Suffering and struggling is what living as a believer is all about.”

A few thoughts for us…
1.  If you’re like me, trusting God in tough times can so easily be pushed out of our lives by anxiety, stress, busyness…Yet prayer is the very thing we need most. Both ‘arrow prayer’ requests (shooting up a quick prayer like an arrow) and talking with God in a more leisurely way helps us trust God.

2.  Thank God that our hearts are guarded in Jesus. We actually do have real peace in him, no matter what our situation.

Prayer:  Father – I praise and thank you, for listening to me.  Thank you that I can bring everything to you in prayer; nothing is too large, or too small. Please help me to be faithful in prayer, handing to you all my concerns, rather than holding onto them, and stressing about them.  Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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7

Philippians 4:1-23

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I 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. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus.

The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.

22All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.