We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk.
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Philippians 4: 4-9 - Don’t stop rejoicing!
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Devotional:
As a teenager I loved singing a round based on verse 4. But singing about rejoicing always is one thing – following through is more difficult.
In the early 1990s we lived in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. This is a place of rugged beauty – and rough roads. On the way home from a trip to see the flooded Coopers Creek and Lake Eyre we had an experience of learning to trust God. We’d had several flat tyres during the trip but continued on – until we had our 4th flat! We were out of spare tyres and tubes. As night approached, we picnicked at the side of the remote dirt road and with our boys sang songs of rejoicing. We had no idea how the situation would be resolved, but we had peace that God was with us.
Sometime later a vehicle approached us. The rough and ready driver said he had a spare tyre – but was reluctant to give it to us because he might not get it back. And then he lent it to us anyway – and followed us back to the main road to make sure we got home safely! God used a tough bushie to bless us – and to teach us and our sons that we served a God who could be trusted.
Prayer:
O God of peace, sometimes we fail to trust you in all that we do. Help us to rejoice always – in the good, and in the bad – knowing that you will never leave us. Help us to trust you to provide the peace we need to live our lives each day. Amen.