A Graceful Dismount

The secret of knowing God’s peace even in stressful times and periods of genuine uncertainty is to turn to the Lord in prayer with thankful hearts. Refuse to wallow in worry. God will be as faithful to us as He always has been in providing a surrounding peace for both our minds and emotions. He wants us to trust Him so that we worry about nothing and pray about everything. And when we pray, we should do so with an attitude of “thankfulness,” which will in turn usher in a replacement for worry—the overwhelming peace of God (4:6-7).

Thankfulness is not a result of our prayers being answered, but thankfulness is what guides us to prayer in the first place. As a result, the peace of God flows into our anxious minds and brings relief and calm.

You don’t have to succumb to evil and anxious thoughts, but you can train your mind to meditate on things true, moral, reputable, authentic, compelling, and gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to malign. How easily we can pollute our thoughts with what brings us down, leads us away from purity and truth, and causes more and more anxiety. A constant stream of cultural input, though at times appealing, only further draws our attention away from those things God has given to us to raise our thoughts to Him and to His Son, Jesus. In Jesus, everything worthy and pure, wholesome and praiseworthy, honorable and true, resides. This battle for peace is fought in the mind. Focus your thoughts on things honoring to Jesus.

Paul praises them for their generous financial partnership, while at the same time explaining he has learned to be content in any situation (even poverty) through the strength he had in Jesus (4:13). Because of his refreshing honesty, the Philippians felt even more motivated to join Paul in his ministry by praying for him and faithfully giving to his ministry no matter how bleak times got.

Their thoughtfulness reminded Paul of incense on the altar and how its sweet smell drifted up to God. Same as now, a Christian’s generosity to God when given in the right spirit, is more than just making a donation or taking up a collection. It is an offering, an aroma of a sweet smell to God. It pleases God when it comes from a heart of faith (4:18).

Joyfully, Paul assures his friends that God would supply all their needs, too. They stood out as shining examples of sacrificial faith and joyful generosity among all the churches Paul served in Macedonia—they were to him his most prized congregation, and he blessed them for it (4:19). Is Jesus’ work in your life coming out in real ways like that? Do you happily share your resources—financial and otherwise—with others, particularly those serving the gospel? A byproduct of Jesus’ generosity in your life would be your sharing His goodness to others in need. That’s the way of Jesus. What better way to show your love and admiration, for instance, for Christians serving Jesus in difficult places around the world, than to support them financially and with your prayers?

Paul closes his letter with good news—they had brand-new brothers and sisters in Christ in Rome and even among royalty. How’s that for the fruit of their faithfulness?! Paul was thrilled to see so many people come to know Jesus in Rome and equally thrilled to tell the praying Philippians about it.

Paul closes the letter with, “Now to our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (4:20).

Does God get the glory in this letter of joy? Yes, He does—every time you receive and experience God’s grace yourself. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, amen.