Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, 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. Whatever 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.
—Philippians 4:4-9

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Rejoicing in This Peace from God
By Jennifer Kane

Rejoice in the Lord,
Let your heart be filled with joy,
Sing again—rejoice!

Let your kindness shine,
Gentle in your every step,
The Lord is so near.

Do not be anxious,
Lift each burden up in prayer,
Peace will fill your soul.

God’s peace, deep and strong,
Guards your heart and guards your mind,
Christ will keep you whole.

Dwell on what is good,
Pure, and noble, full of light,
Think on these always.

Walk in what you’ve learned,
Practice all you’ve seen in Christ,
Peace will be with you.

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Paul’s command to rejoice in the Lord always is remarkable, considering he wrote this letter while imprisoned. His joy wasn’t based on circumstances but on confidence in God’s sovereignty. Spurgeon insightfully points out that joy in the Lord helps prevent discord and offense—it lifts our focus above petty grievances and onto the eternal goodness of God. True peace begins with a heart that rejoices in God, regardless of the situation.

Paul calls us to let our gentleness be evident to all. The Greek word epieikeia suggests patience, forbearance, and a willingness to yield rather than to demand one’s way. Jesus demonstrated this when he gently addressed the woman caught in adultery, showing mercy while still upholding righteousness. When we trust that God will set all things right, we are freed from the need to fight every battle ourselves.

Paul instructs us to be anxious for nothing but to bring everything—big or small—to God in prayer. Anxiety stems from trying to control things beyond our reach, but prayer releases our burdens into God’s hands. When we pray with thanksgiving, our focus shifts from our problems to God’s faithfulness. The result? A supernatural peace that surpasses understanding, guarding our hearts and minds.

What we choose to dwell on shapes our inner peace. Paul urges us to fix our minds on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. In a world filled with negativity, this requires intentionality. The peace of God is preserved when we refuse to meditate on fear, bitterness, or despair but instead focus on God’s truth and goodness.

Paul doesn’t just give instructions; he invites believers to follow his example. True peace comes not just from knowing these truths but from living them out. When we rejoice, trust, pray, and guard our minds, the God of peace is with us.

Today, choose one area where you struggle with peace—whether it’s worry, frustration, or negativity. Bring it to God in prayer with thanksgiving, replace anxious thoughts with Scripture, and intentionally act in faith. The peace of God will meet you there.

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Lord God, help me to rejoice in You always, to trust in Your justice, to bring my worries to You in prayer, and to focus my mind on what is good. May Your peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

March 23 2025