i do have joy in the Lord other times, of course, but in church the worries of life are not forefront in my mind. the loneliness of my previous week slips away. and i often find myself thinking, "i wish i could feel this released from the pressure of life, and from my anxiousness, and loneliness all the time. i wish i could rejoice in the Lord always".
i just read philippians 4 again. it's often quoted. often suggested to us who are prone to worry, and anxiousness; those of us who are prone to wander. it says if you forgot, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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". Phil 4:4-8
if you have been in touch with me lately, you know that i have been going through a series of rough transitional seasons. this is true. but, what is also true is that i have been blessed beyond measure through these seasons. I read through some old journals recently while working on a book i am writing, and found some prayers for a husband, and for a job. they were from two years ago. and when i read them now, i think of how much bigger God is than i make Him. how much more He knows than i realize. how much less there is to worry about than i remember.
the truth is it's easier to be reminded of these things in church. the reason why? because in a church there are people gathered together for a common purpose regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or background-- to worship and adore their King, to remember His promises; that we are bought with a price...the precious lifeblood of Jesus Christ; that we are adopted into His family; that we are free in Him; that there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ; that He has won the victory over our sin and over all kingdoms; that His Kingdom is within us. and we are filled because we focus in on these truths. We focus in on our God.
but, why don't we do this other times? i mean, i am asking myself. maybe you do it other times and i just don't. maybe sometimes we do it other times. but not always. but, doesnt this passage ask us to rejoice in the Lord always? so, then how do we do that on the other days? how do we do that in loneliness? how do we do that in difficult seasons? in uncertainty? in failure? in grieving? in pain?
i think we do what the rest of the passage says. pray. petition. with thankfulness. how can we muster up thankfulness during hard times? read the rest...
meditate on the things that are true, noble, pure, lovely, the things of good report, and the things that are virtuous, and praiseworthy.
often the things i meditate on are negative, self deprecating, not God honoring, lies, ugly, without virtue, and forgetful of praiseworthiness.
i think when the Word says for us to "take every thought captive to the things of Christ", this is what was meant. to stop the thoughts my mind wanders to, and to focus them on meditation on these 7 things of Christ. in church. and outside the walls of church. in the Church so that my "gentleness [can] be known to all men. [for] the Lord is at hand" and He is at work in the world. and in my heart.
