Steve Carroll

Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection:
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes do not feel close to God. To be more honest, I often, do not feel close to God. There are many reasons why: problems to solve, tasks to complete, doubts and worries. Often these things push my relationship with God into the background.

Our church has published a Spiritual Growth Journey document, which tells us that a relationship with Jesus is the core of the Christian faith, and is the motivation for all we do. So how can we rekindle, and strengthen, this all-important relationship with Jesus?

Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us a roadmap. Verse 4 asks us to: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.” According to a Christian camp in New York, Camp DeWolfe, the Greek word for rejoice means “favorably disposed to God’s grace.” To me, this means appreciating what God has created, and praising God for it. When I slow down, and simply marvel at God’s creation, it can reset, or jumpstart, my relationship with God. I remember an occasion when I was in my 20s, walking along a sidewalk by a busy road, when I paused next to a tree, and a leaf caught my attention. The leaf was ordinary, but it was also intricate and beautiful. It struck me that this leaf was the product of God’s creation, and it was good and wonderfully made, and I was compelled to praise God for it. I felt so close to God. The same thing can happen when I see a beautiful valley, or hear the sound of calling sandhill cranes. Acknowledging and marveling at God’s creation sets me right with God.

Paul’s letter also tells us how to build and strengthen our relationship with God: “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.” Supplication is the action of asking earnestly and humbly. Praying to God, asking earnestly and humbly, with thanksgiving, will grow our relationship with God. It is not necessarily easy. I often lose track of my thoughts during prayer, and start thinking about other things. And it takes discipline to pray on a regular basis. But Paul goes on to describe the payoff of disciplined prayer: “And the peace of God, with surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Another way to use this passage is to pray by reciting these four verses over and over, like a mantra. These verses are comforting and peaceful, and can help to align us with God, strengthening our relationship with him. 

Prayer:
Almighty Creator, guide me to appreciate the marvelous world you have created, and to praise you for it. Grant me the discipline to pray to you earnestly and humbly with thanksgiving, and grant me your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Amen.