1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. 3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. 12I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. 13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14However you did well that you shared in my affliction. 15You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. 17Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. 18But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. 19My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
How Can I get Back My Joy?
Philippians 4 Part One
How Can I get Back My Joy?
4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition 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 thoughts in Christ Jesus.
This chapter is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible on Christian living. Paul is giving in these few verses the formula for living a renewed life. Throughout my years of pastoring, I have often had people come to me and say such things as, “Pastor, I don’t know what to do. I have absolutely no joy in my life. How can I get my joy back?” We regain our joy by choosing to have it. Paul gives us the very formula for restoration of joy in these verses. The bottom line is that Joy is closely connected with gratitude. People who have lost their joy are people who have become ungrateful. Let’s look at Paul's roadmap to joy.
First, joy isn’t a suggestion. It is a command. Paul tells his audience twice in a row to choose joy. He says, REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS AND I’LL REMIND YOU A SECOND TIME – REJOICE! It begins with a gentle spirit. That means don’t be harsh. Don’t condemn. Just work your way through this hardship knowing that God is in control (the Lord is at hand). He follows by saying Don’t have angst over things. Anxiety is born in the uncertain fear of what is to come. Accept that if you are following this roadmap, fear and anxiety are not going to have any part in bringing the much-needed peace into our lives. The best “pill” for anxiety is by “prayer and petition with thanksgiving.” There it is! Begin by thanking God for anything and everything you can be thankful for. It may be that you're thanking Him for having a problem that only He can fix. You can tell Him about it. In fact, the word here says “let your requests be made known unto God.” That’s part of the path to get back to joy and peace. And a promise of that peace comes with it.
When you are confronting overwhelming difficulties, stop, take a breath, and remember that you can take God at His word. It can be invaluable to reduce these short verses to memory. Then meditate on them. A good way to meditate on them is to recite the verse repeatedly, adding a word each time you recite it and accentuating it. Start by saying, “REJOICE”. Then say, “Rejoice IN.” Then move to “Rejoice in THE.” Follow that by “Rejoice in the LORD.” Anyway, hopefully you get the idea. As you do this, begin to comb your mind and your soul for anything that has been a comfort to you in your past. His peace will come. It might not come immediately, but it will come. Why is that? It is because that is what God promised, and He is a promise keeper.