Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
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.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Reflect
We renovated our house a couple of years back. If you have ever done this, then you know it is a blessing and a curse. Its a curse until its finished. Then, when it is finished, it is a blessing. The other problem about renovating one part of your house is that you begin to see the other parts of the house as a little less desirable. You want to figure out a way to remodel the rest of your house.
That might be what Paul intends for us when he says to think about beautiful things. If our minds are exposed to beautiful things, and we think about them, then the ugliness of our minds seems less desirable and we may even think about changing our minds and think more beautiful thoughts.
What are some things you have heard or learned on your faith journey that you keep doing and thinking about?
Pray
God, this scripture tells us to rejoice in you always, but this is Lent and Lent focuses on reflection and repentance. Perhaps, your servant Paul, is calling us to reflect on all the things that are from You: what is honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. If we do, we may turn back to those things and do what we know and have learned is pleasing to You. Help us to reflect and turn. We need you and we need your peace. Amen.
Go with God!
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