8 day plan

Hope in a Time of Disaster

Day 7 of 8

CSB

Philippians 4:7

7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflections: Too often words like hope, peace and love roll off our tongues like platitudes. As followers of Jesus, we need to remember their very real power in times of trouble and the fact that the incarnation of God in the person of the Christ means that God is with us. However, we also need to remember that these things require grit, effort and prayer, if we are to take up our crosses and follow the Christ. Hope, peace and love are not just things that God gives to us for ourselves alone, but also for others. These are things that we can work for but might require a shift in our thinking through prayer to make them real. In prayer we may then see the outworking of these things in our world and offer them to those we meet just as Christ offers them to us.

Praying the Peace of God:
Christ,
Source of peace,
The Scriptures say, “Do not be anxious about anything,”
But this is hard,
Especially in times of devastation and strife,
When hope seems faint and the future so uncertain.
The Scriptures say, “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.
There is so much to pray for,
With so many needs and so much wrong with the world,
And it seems sometimes that there is so little to be thankful for,
But, let us try to heed this instruction,
Let us pray our concerns to you in the way of the psalms
Opening in ourselves in compassion to the needs of God,
And seeking to be grateful for the good that we hold.
The Scriptures say, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,”
May this truly be so in your wisdom and way,
We fervently pray.
Amen.

Days

Philippians 4:1-23

1So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

Practical Counsel

2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. 9Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Appreciation of Support

10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

15And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.