Rejoice and Give Thanks

 

Every morning I get a wonderful Daily Devotional in my Inbox from www. powertochange.com This mornings Devo was by one of my favorite authors, about one of my favorite verses and it has stuck with me all day long. I just had to share a part of it. To read the full devo, just click here.

Philippians 4:4-7

“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 everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which passes all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Wow! Here was the answer to the “how?” of guarding my wellspring of life, my heart. God will actually send His peace to do it for me if I simply choose my responses today.

Choose to Rejoice in the Lord always. Focus on all the Lord is and offers to us through Himself. Take one point and make it the meditation of your day.

Choose to Remember He is near. When anxiety threatens, ask God to remind you that He is right there and He will steady you and give you the wisdom you need.

Choose to Respond in prayer. Worry is a call to prayer. Choose to lay your request before God and ask for His guidance.

Choose to Retain thanksgiving. Leave your concern with the Lord and focus instead on who He is and His ability to hold you through any challenge. Maintain a grateful heart for even the smallest of His blessings. Watch for them.

Result: His peace, which is beyond understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

Pretty amazing really when you pause to ponder it.

All our spillover today in our actions, relationships, words, attitudes, will pour from what is in our hearts. We are told by God to guard our hearts. When we choose to focus on Him (Rejoice), to Remember He is right there with us, to pray (Respond) even when we don’t feel like it, and to Retain gratitude in our hearts, then an amazing thing happens.

God’s peace itself guards our hearts AND our minds…. thorough Jesus Christ and we REST even in the midst of unsettling times!

Lord God,

Please help me today to choose to guard my heart through these four steps and to experience Your amazing and in-explainable peace settling over my heart and mind by the power of Jesus. Thank you for Your wonderful provision when I turn my eyes to You. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Question: How will you rejoice, remember, respond and retain today?