Philippians 4:4-9 GW; Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! ⁵ Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. ⁶ Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. ⁷ Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable. ⁹ Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.

There’s a whole lot of good advice packed in these few short verses. Verses that we should memorize and keep close to us each time we hear a bad report, see a bad report or are tempted to speak a bad report. There is one thing that sets us apart from the world; Our peace and joy. Joyfulness because we have our trust placed in God, not the world and it’s ever changing drama. Peace because we have confidence in His ability to take care of us, not our own.

I was asked to pray for someone and did what came naturally to me, I prayed the Word. When I finished, the person was staring at me with a dumbfounded expression on their face. I asked them what was wrong and this was their reply; “I’ve never had anyone pray like that for me before. You actually prayed the Word of God over me with such assurance, like you really believe it.” I felt like saying, ‘No duh! I DO believe it, if I didn’t I wouldn’t bother.’ Verse 9 says, “Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t play church, i don’t pretend to be a believer and then dis-believe the Word of God. I practice my confession of faith, faith in the God my my fathers. I don’t run around speaking what I see in the world, that only validates the worlds system. No I speak what the Word says about the world, about MY world. I speak the Word daily over my finances, my body, my mind and my spirit. I speak the Word over my children. I memorized Deuteronomy 28 years ago and I still speak the covenant promises of God over us today. Am I perfect? NO! But I practice and practice makes perfect.

Father, may my life be filled with so much joy that the world notices. Where there is turmoil, may my presence (you in me) bring peace. May your Word in me bring peace to troubled storms. May your Word in me bring healing to sick bodies. May your Word in me bring life to dead things. Everything I saw that you did in your Word, you will do in and through me. You’re only looking for someone to offer themselves up, a willing vessel, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to you. This is my desire, Lord, may the peace that passes all understanding guard my heart and mind. May I show others the way to have that wonderful, all consuming, living, fresh breath of life-giving peace. It’s in the Name of Jesus I ask it, Amen.