Philippians 4:4-7

On Sunday in the morning service, someone brought a word from Philippians 4. In the service someone else had been pondering on these same scriptures and they emailed me what they had got out of these scriptures.

I thought it was excellent how they had worked through the verses so here is the email. See what you think as you ponder these scriptures.

Email - - - - - - - - - -
You could have blown me over with a feather on Sunday morning when somebody came forward with Philippians 4:4-7.

It is the exact scripture I have had all week. God is soooooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, I need to add to it and feel led to add the following :

God promises peace in this passage, however there are conditions that need to be met. There are actions that we have to take in order to experience that peace and win over worry.

1. v.4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always" we are told twice in this passage to rejoice - to practice joy, to take delight in and be glad" But the pursuit of joy is a matter of choice. We have to come to the source of our joy - Jesus. We must choose to rejoice in the midst of every circumstance, good or bad.

2. v.5 says "let your gentleness be evident to all". Gentleness means humility, softness and tenderness. How we treat people affects our peace. Many of us have lives filled with worry because we have relationships filled with conflict. When we are not gentle conflict is the result. Worry and anxiety thrive in this atmosphere. Gentleness is love in action.

3. v5 says "the Lord is near'. We have to be aware of His presence. The most powerful weapon against worry is scripture and prayer (1 Peter5:7 says "Give all your worries to Him because He cares about you".

4. v6 says "Do not be anxious about anything". we have to choose to trust. God has never asked us to do anything that He doesn't empower us to do. Worry and anxiousness is a control issue and the opposite is to Trust. We must choose to Trust.

5. v6 says "but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests to God" Petition is to plea.

6. v6 further says "but in everything... with thanksgiving" Praise pleases God and praise leads to obedience (1 Thes 5:16-18) and enhances our awareness of His presence. Praise produces Trust.

Paul says this kind of peace is beyond our understanding, it is beyond our ability to comprehend. This peace is a supernatural gift from God. When we have met the conditions God stations peace at the doorway of our hearts and minds We can claim the promises and exchange our worries for God's gift of peace.