When Christ is the center of your heart

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4.4-5)

Paul wrote these words while he was alone and separated from his loved ones, unable to visit or be visited. He was in jail. But his incarceration was unfair and unjust – he didn’t deserve this isolation.  Yet… he was able to rejoice and trust that God was near, even in his dark and fearful experience.

Many of us can relate to Paul in our current experience: isolated, separated, unable to visit or be visited… but not as a result of our actions or offenses.

Self-isolation and self-quarantine are essential community behaviors that can save lives and protect our communities in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

But that doesn’t make us feel any better about it, right? Many of us are feeling frustrated, fearful, and anxious.

When I am anxious or fearful, and I allow that anxiousness to dwell in my heart, it will direct my reactions to people. I am not gentle with others, but impatient and aloof; there is no evidence in my words or behavior that the Lord is in near – or that he is here in our midst.

But when I bring my anxiousness and my fears to Jesus, I can turn them into prayers and requests, and he replaces that turmoil with peace.

⁶ do not be anxious 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 (Philippians 4.6-7)

His gentleness becomes evident, because the Lord is near – he is in our midst.

And that can bring encouragement and comfort to others. Just like when Jesus calmed the storm – he calms the storms in our hearts and minds.

Today, and in the days and weeks ahead, we can learn to bring to Jesus our fears and frustrations – and turn them into prayers. We can thank him – for all he is, and all he has done.  We can look to him, even when our hearts or minds are rattled with anxiousness.

Jesus can work into our hearts and minds a peace that the world cannot give us, but a peace that only he can give.

Here is a wonderful version of Philippians 4.6-9 from the Message Bible. Perhaps this is worth memorizing!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Invite Jesus into each place of your heart, and ask him to dwell there.

He is called the “Prince of Peace” and he wants to share that peace in our hearts.

Moreover, he can give us that peace – all you need to do is “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.”

Is today the day when you can take a new step in trusting God? What is preventing you from reaching out to him, in your heart, and asking Jesus to come and dwell in you? 

Can you ask him to be the center of your life today?

If you want to chat about this personally, please PM me or email me so we can connect.