THREE STEPS TO PEACE IN EVERY SITUATION

June 14, 2024

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

 
1. THINK ON THINGS THAT PRODUCE JOY AND PEACE. Jesus produces joy in our lives. The joy of the Lord is a confidence and settledness, and it’s a kind of serenity that is not based on our circumstances but is a condition of the heart that is the result of salvation in Jesus. Paul goes on in Philippians to write about the importance of what you are thinking about: whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence, anything worthy of praise – think on these things, and you’ll have peace (Philippians 4:8).
 

Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 

 
2. STAY CALM AND GENTLE. We are at our best when we are not flipping out. A gentle spirit is not weakness – it is meekness, which is power under control. Being gentle doesn’t mean we indulge in false passivity. We need to be adamant about what God finds important. For example, in marriage, we must listen to each other and not use the silent treatment, thinking we are “gentle.” Yes, sometimes we have to bridle our tongues and keep quiet, but not to the point where we check out and are not carrying our end of the responsibility of a conversation. Whatever your personality type, when you make Jesus central in your life, you can keep a cool spirit because you have “put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created” (Proverbs 17:27; Ephesians 4:24). 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

 
3. DON’T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING. “And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]” (Philippians 4:7 AMP). Peace from God is so good that it surpasses comprehension. We can’t figure it out. Let the peace of God cover you – peace in your relationships, peace in your finances, peace in your body, and peace in every area of your life. 

 
DAILY CONFESSION:
I rejoice in the Lord always; again I will rejoice. I will let my gentle spirit be known to all people. God is near! I am anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry

gen·tle, adj.
Kind, amiable: not harsh or stern. Peaceful.

^{Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org. Gentle, Adj. (1). Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam CO., 1971, p. 947.}