Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Dear Jesus, the joy we have by you is less fickle than happiness, and assumes the brokenness, messiness, and pains of life. Hallelujah, it isn’t dependent on anything but you. Through our union with you we are thoroughly known, deeply loved, and kept both by and for you. In May 2025, make this more real and precious to us than ever.
5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. Jesus is near.” How near are you? Our lives are in yours, and you now live in us. But your return to our world is also near, that is “soon.” This is why we can risk being gentle. We don’t have to live with panic, fear, or obsessing about outcomes.
6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We’re grateful to have you, our Father, and the Spirit as the peace-garrison for our hearts and minds. Peace in the storms, calm in the chaos, amity in our hearts… what more do we need? With palms up, Jesus, we give you the people who fuel our anxieties, the storylines that vex us, and the heartaches we’d love to heal.
8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Jesus, you are the truest, noblest, “rightest,” purest, loveliest, most worship-worthy and trust-fully reality there is. But more than just think about you, we want to love and adore you with everything we have and are. Overwhelm us afresh with your beauty, kindness, and delight, Lord Jesus. So Very Amen.