Daily Devotion (October 31, 2024)
Philippians 4:1, 6-7
1Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord We become citizens of Heaven. We are to stand and stand firm in Jesus. Remember who you are. You do not belong to this world. You belong to Jesus IF You have accepted Jesus as your savior and Lord. I continually emphasis this because many only accept Christ to keep from Hell. It does not work that way.
How often do we take our focus off God. God is in control of all things. If we focus on the world we will follow the way of the world. Paul writes “Stand fast in the Lord!” We cannot be people followers. Euodia and Syntyche were apparently influential in the Christian community. Paul exhorted them to resolve their conflict and be of the same mind in the church.
The church is to follow Jesus Christ. There were some in the Philippian church who were being critical, arguing, grumbling and complaining. What does Paul say the church is to do? The church is to “stand fast in the Lord.” “Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
I love the song by Ira Stanphill, “I Know who holds tomorrow” Because we know God is in control of not just the moment we live in but also tomorrow and the future. I do not worry…well there may be a little anxiety at times. Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
We must quit trying to run our lives according to the way of the world. Once we have made peace with God then the peace of God floods our lives. How do we maintain God’s peace? God’s peace comes through prayer (vv. 6-7). It also comes through positive thinking focused on God!
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”