I learned the words as a song in youth group. A dear friend (and church secretary who always claimed to “have helped raise me” as I worked part-time in college as the youth director at my home church) made me a wall hanging of the same words in calligraphy. And it is the one passage where I always find myself stopping in Philippians to ponder.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Starting at the last line, it promises to deliver what we probably long for –
“the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, to guard our hearts and minds.”

In the middle, it tells us how to find this peace –
“don’t worry, but lift everything to God in prayer.”

And it starts out with the recipe for the Christian life itself –
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your gentleness be known by everyone.
Remember, the Lord is near.”

Enough said. Now it’s time to listen, learn, and live this way.

Prayer

Thank You, God, for guiding me daily by Your word. Now let me live my life, praying and practicing the faith that will give me peace. Amen.