Philippians 4:4-9, New Living Translation

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again— rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate, and all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all…”

Our God is so loving and kind! I love how He Is so gentle. He isn’t quick to anger and condemn but leads us through His word to paths of righteousness.

As I read my daily devotional, I reminded to not lean on self, but to trust God in His provision. I need that! And I am sure I am not alone. When God is teaching us, we are filled with excitement to walk out what He is teaching us. Every once in a while, we get to a bend in the road, and it throws us off. Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT) is a wonderful place to hear the Lord speak to us. It says this, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again— rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me— Everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

I know this is a lot, but if we listen, there is so much the Lord is saying here. This is what I feel He is speaking to me.

Always be filled with joy: God is at work in my heart. He’s changing the way that I think and empowering me by His Spirit to love and to love well! 1 John 4:16-17 (NLT) says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So, we will not be afraid of the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.” So, we can rejoice because He hasn’t given up on us, but continuously is perfecting His love in us, and we don’t have to be afraid on judgment when we meet Him face-to-face, because we are allowing Him to do a deep work in us that reflects Christ!

Don’t worry about anything but pray! There is power and prayer! Even just talking with your Father does so much. He doesn’t get tired of listening! I can’t tell you how much I cried out to Him in my time of need, and it was the same thing over and over again! But I am here to testify that he is listening! Don’t give up! It may seem like a long time before He answers, but His timing is perfect, and your heart must be in the right place to receive what He wants to do for you. I am so thankful that He Heard my cries! Because I was seeking, He fulfilled this verse in my life, which He can do for you too! “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn Heart, and give you a tender, response of heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT). How many of us can relate to being stubborn? I raise my hand to this! For so long, I was stubborn and hardhearted, but after earnestly seeking the Lord and trusting in His love, He has given me a new heart, a tender and responsive heart, which allows me to follow Him!

God is so faithful! This is what we should fix our thoughts on. Whatever He has done in our past, He can do in the present and our future! We hold onto the things He has taught us, and we walk them out daily with joy and rejoicing in Him but always remaining alert of the lion that roams and seeks to devour. When life brings that curve in the road, we pray! Then we trust in Him, we trust in His love, we trust in His response! We continue to walk in genuine love and affection for one another in building one another up in Christ. Then our faith is expressed in love, and when our faith is put in action, we fulfill the law! Always remember, this isn’t done on our own strength. This is done because of the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. Through Him, all things are possible.

Life can be difficult, but God is greater than all things great and small, difficult, or easy, every mountain and every valley. Remember, God is not done with you, and He is faithful to complete the work that He has begun in you!