Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4:3
We live in a world that is ‘self-driven’. The ‘I have to have the best’, ‘be the best’, and ‘be better than her’ attitude is prevalent. Not only do we expect better than the best from ourselves we demand it from others, and we have little to no tolerance for those who do not measure up. While there is nothing wrong with being motivated and wanting to ‘do your best’, or even expecting others to do their best – Paul teaches us here and throughout his writings, that we are to be God-driven rather than ‘self-driven’. His words to “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,” are preceded by the wisdom of how to do this, wisdom that basically teaches putting others first. He teaches humbleness, gentleness, patience, and making allowance for other’s faults – and he bases it on our love – which, according to Jesus’ teaching, is supposed to mirror His love for us, (john 13:34) – and His love was anything but selfish and self-driven. Where this love is absent, self will be prevalent and there will be no true unity. This is why Paul doesn’t suggest that we do this on our own but instead says to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
It strikes me as I’m writing and glancing back up at verse 1, where Paul begs the believers to lead a life worthy of someone who is called by God – that we are not just called to salvation but rather to live out that salvation. To love as Jesus loved, to be His hands and feet to the world, to go and make disciples, to edify and encourage others, to lift up the weak, and pray for the sick, and so much more. God’s calling is not easy but He made it all possible by giving us His Spirit – who not only binds us together with peace and in love but empowers, teaches, and guides us to do all that God has called us to do, even live at peace with other believers who we may not see eye to eye with.
Are you having trouble living at peace with someone or a group of someones? The Spirit of God is your answer – your strength and hope of overcoming the barriers to the unified peace God has called us to. May we heed Paul’s words and “because of [our love] make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit, binding ourselves together with peace“. In this, God will be glorified and we will know His peace.
Response to God’s Word
Father as the old hymn says, “bind us together – with cords that cannot be broken – bind us together in love” – In Jesus’ name I pray, amen and amen!
He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10
The day I gave birth to Annie, my first daughter, was filled with excitement. Seventeen days past her April Fools due date we were finally going to meet this child I had waited on and prayed for, for eight long years. From the early morning ultra-sound to the late-afternoon delivery the day was filled with excitement and wonderment, and the room and hallway filled with family and a posse of friends from our new church. After the excitement of the day – when the room stood empty – friends and family gone …new dad home to rest … baby girl wheeled back to the nursery for TLC from the nurses ..and me – alone. Alone to absorb all that had happened, to embrace the reality that I was a mother, that God – after all these years – had not only heard my prayers for a child but had answered them. I reached for my Bible on the nightstand beside me and there was peace in the stillness of the room – peace in the knowledge that I was not alone. While there isn’t time or space here to explain all that transpired between me and God in the beauty of the stillness – I can tell you that it was in those still and quiet moments that He awakened my soul; and while I didn’t know it at the time – He started me on a path that would lead me to understand the truest meaning of ‘Be still and know that I Am God’. A statement which is best defined in the context of our verse today as “cease striving”.
Actually, He had started me on the path just about a year before Annie was born. Long story short, I had worked for years trying to make God happy enough with me that He would give me a child. When the prayer went unanswered despair and poor choices would inevitably follow and then the days of striving to be good enough would begin again. This was a cycle that continued for years – That is, until my mom shared Philippians 4:11-13 with me, a passage that teaches contentedness in whatever circumstances we are in. In need or in plenty, well-fed or hungry… and yes pregnant or not – God wanted me to be content – not just with my circumstances but with Him and His will for my life. Which is exactly what I committed to do. Don’t get me wrong, it did not stop the prayers for a child but it changed the way I prayed and the response to the monthly answer. And now here I sat, talking with God, in a hospital room waiting for the nurse to bring me my baby girl! I could have never seen then what would come through this child and the years ahead of us but through it all – and to this day – I have learned (and continue to learn) with much practice – to:
“be still and know that He is God”
rest, knowing He is in control
stop, and remember His will is always better than my desires
cease striving to get what I want … and instead
surrender to His will
let go of frustration and disappointment ~ and
trust His way and perfect timing
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NET
3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was creditedto him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, 24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.
Romans 4:23-25
Is there anything more exciting than knowing we have been declared righteous by our faith? To truly understand the implication and the beauty of it, the unbelievable love behind it, and the truest meaning of God’s grace – it helps to read chapters 1-4 of Romans but specifically Romans 4:3, 23-25. I especially love verses 23-24, “But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” But in context with our study on prayer, what does it all mean? How does it affect the way we pray? And, how does it produce a HOPE in which we can rejoice?
Why Can We Pray Rejoicing in HOPE?
Because, to name a few reasons …
Christ was given over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.(4:25)
We are DECLARED Righteous through faith in Christ. (3:24-25)
This declaration happens by grace through faith, not by works. (Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:8-9)
We have peace with God, through the sinless blood of Christ. (5:1-2)
Which means we have access, or A WAY, [Jesus Christ, John 14:6] …
to enter into the presence of God
to stand in His Grace
to rejoice in the HOPE of God and all that is His
Faith is the victory! It is the key to the righteousness we must obtain through Christ to be made right with God and experience the hope of rejoicing in His glory! – The hope that does not disappoint, as we come to know the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts through His Holy Spirit, who He has given to us! It [faith] is the key to praying with HOPE and to rejoicing in our sufferings, and standing in His Grace!
Father, Than You for the HOPE that comes from knowing and believing in Your Son, Jesus! Thank for the RIGHTEOUSNESS that is ours through our Faith in Him, in His death and resurrection, for the victory that is ours through this FAITH, and for making a way where there was truly no other way. Thank You for Your GRACE that allows us to stand in Your presence and to REJOICE in the HOPE of Your GLORY but also in our sufferings because of the love You have poured into our hearts through Your Spirit! – Thank You in Jesus’ name, Amen –
Want More
Be sure and check out today’s LGG blog post for even more insight
I have often quoted and/or prayed the first words of this passage, “I was glad because they said to me, ‘We will go to the [House] of the Lord.'” Yet, in all honesty, I confess the rest of this passage is unfamiliar to me or at least does not jump out to me as often read or ever studied. Take time to soak up all nine verses, they are beautiful and have a message of hope for all who belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Read it, listen to the building excitement in David’s words in this “Psalm of Ascent”1, a call to worship, sang as the people of Israel traveled to Jerusalem. His obvious love for simply being in the city – comes out in the second verse when he declares: “Our feet are standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.” Be careful not to miss how he focuses on the features of the city. He’s caught up with the temple (House of God) (v1,5,9), the gates (v2), the thrones (v5), the walls (defenses) (v7), and fortresses (v7). They have an affect on his life and he believes, as his words reveal, on all who are inside the city.
All of this leads to a prayer for Jerusalem, a concern for her, and the people and the leaders within, to know peace inside her walls and to rest in the security of such a great fortress. He prays this not just because he loves the temple-city of His God but, as he says, for the sake, or the concern, for his brothers and neighbors – not only that they would know peace but that there would be no contention among them that would destroy the city or distract them from being in the temple of their God; and the concern seems equally spent on “seeking Jerusalem’s good through prayer”2 I love this imagery, the people having an effect on the House of God – where they dwell, where they gather to worship, and where legal decisions are made; but also the House of God – and all that goes on or is within her, from the gates to the thrones and the security she provides – having an effect on the people. In other words we affect the ‘church’ and the ‘church’ affects us.
Application: So what’s it all mean?
As is clearly stated, Jerusalem was a place meant for God’s people to gather, to worship, and to make legal decisions. The “tribes”3 of families go “up” to Jerusalem, where they are required to give thanks (v4) to the name of the LORD, their God.
As I read through this part of the passage, I landed on the people being ‘required to give thanks to the name of the LORD and realized another beautiful truth to apply here – while we may no longer live under the requirements of the law – if thanksgiving was important to God then, and clearly it was – would it not also be important to Him now? After all, we live under the freedom of His grace, (Rom 6:14-15), which He lavished on us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only begotten Son, (Eph 1:3-8).
As for the application of our focus verses (8-9), we have already noted: the Psalmist prays acknowledging his desire/concern for his brothers and friends to enjoy peace within the walls of Jerusalem and then for the good of the “temple of God” to prosper or do good. It seems to me that David is seeking the welfare of both the local and the corporate aspects of God’s people – which I believe is a good indication that we, as a community of faith, both locally and globally, should share this same focus and purpose in prayer – a focus so intent on being in the Presence of God that we seek the good of the church and its people.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May those who love her prosper. 7 May there be peace inside your defenses, and prosperity inside your fortresses. 8 For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors I will say, “May there be peace in you.” 9 For the sake of the temple of the Lord our God I will pray for you to prosper.
Psalm 122:6-9
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, how good you were to place Your people within “tribes” – developing families of nations and ultimately, the community of faith/church – Your people both locally and globally. Help us/me, like David, to faithfully seek peace and [good] for Your people and for the good of Your [House]. May we be glorifying and honoring influencers in the church, and may its influence leave a lasting impression on us that is a light to all we come in contact with. may I/we always enter with thanksgiving, not because we are required to but because we realize the blessing, privilege, and power that are ours because we belong to You. In the name and power of Jesus, so let it be!
1Love God Greatly from the God who restores, devotion-Day 2 (p. 38)
2FOOTNOTE on verse 9, from HCSB study Bible: tn Heb “I will seek good for you.” The psalmist will seek Jerusalem’s “good” through prayer.
3″Tribes” is a reference to the 12 tribes of Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel came from the twelve sons of Israel. “Israel” is the name that God gave Jacob (Genesis 32:28). His twelve sons are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin (Genesis 35:23-26; Exodus 1:1–4; 1 Chronicles 2:1–2). When the tribes inherited the Promised Land, Levi’s descendants did not receive a territory for themselves (Joshua 13:14). Instead, they became priests and had several cities scattered throughout all of Israel. Joseph’s tribe was divided in two—Jacob had adopted Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, essentially giving Joseph a double portion for his faithfulness in saving the family from famine (Genesis 47:11–12). This means the tribes who received territory in the Promised Land were Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. In some places in Scripture, the tribe of Ephraim is referred to as the tribe of Joseph (Numbers 1:32–33).– https://www.gotquestions.org/twelve-tribes-Israel.html
Your Turn: Reflections
Why/how are you praying for peace, prosperity, and security for God’s people today?
When I got in the car after leaving mom in her room at the rehab center where she is recovering from her broken femur and spinal injury, I sat for a moment in the silence of the dark night sky. Tears beckoned to fall again, prayers of praise were whispered for how well the conversation went – considering I had just told my mother that she isn’t going to be able to come home yet. I sat staring, hurting for my mother and missing my father and brothers, trying to pray – yet no words came – so I started the car and began the drive home in silence. After a difficult day of information and emotions – I chose to turn music on to drown out the fiery darts that were beginning to assault my mind with fears and worry and sorrow. Typically, when I press play my Spotify opens and begins playing the mix where I left off, but this time another app, one that I never use any more, actually one I’m not sure I’ve even seen before, opened and started in the middle of Lauren Daigle’s, “Trust In You”. I started to change it but realized the song was exactly what I needed to hear, as were all that followed it and serenaded me for the 25-minute car ride home, a complete playlist centered on trusting God, clearly this was His doing, It was what He knew I needed to hear, just as the quiet office day, and Angela’s words of encouragement, and Barbara’s aptly timed phone call, and all of the other text or messages throughout the day were what He knew I needed. I drove in tears and surrender as Heaven came down and His presence and peace not only filled my car but every essence of my being. Check it out and tell me if you don’t think this was a music interlude from heaven – I know it was the sweetest I’ve ever heard.
The first song picked up in the middle of “Trust in you”, by Lauren Daigle, I confess I hit replay on this one at least twice and sang and cried along with it, surrendering all of my apprehensions to what I know to be His perfect and loving control.
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings There’s not a day ahead You have not seen So in all things be my life and breath I want what You want, Lord, and nothing less
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don’t give the answers As I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust I will trust in You I will trust in You
This was followed by “Amen”, by I Am They – The exact expression of my thoughts just moments before and so often over the past two weeks …
I have no words to say Don’t know what I should pray God, I need You God, I need You O Lord, my faith is tired And tears fill up my eyes But I will trust You, I will trust You
I know You go before me and I am not alone This mountain rises higher The way seems so unclear But I know that You go with me So I will never fear I will trust in You
I try to catch my breath It hasn’t happened yet I’m wide awake in the middle of the night scared to death So I prayed God, would You make this stop Father please hold on to me, You’re all I’ve got
Carry me, carry me, carry me now From my sinking sand to Your solid ground The only way I’m ever gonna make it out Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now God carry me, carry me, carry me now
Jesus calm my heart Come near me please Lord don’t let these worries get the best of me Oh I believe, that You’re still here with me Cause You meant what You said when You said You’d never leave
So carry me, carry me, carry me now From my sinking sand to Your solid ground The only way I’m ever gonna make it out Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now God carry me, carry me, carry me now
Beautiful, right? They may not have been on my Spotify playlist before but, I can promise you, they are at the top of it now. Whatever caused that app to open, whatever caused those particular songs to play in that order – they were without question a blessing from God to me. I pray they will be a blessing to you as well, for regardless of what fills your life right now – mountain top experiences or valley deep trenches – trusting God is the key to walking by faith and not by sight and trusting God is the key to being light in the darkness around us.
Paul didn’t just tell believers not to be anxious about anything – he taught them ‘how to’ not be anxious about anything. He knew, most likely from experience, that anxiousness would be a part of their life. Remember in that day, to do what they were called to do as disciples of Christ often led them to imprisonment or worse. However, it wasn’t just the big stuff that he focused on – he told them, “Do not be anxious about anything“. What I love about Paul is that often when he told the people ‘what not to do’ he followed it up with ‘what to do’. Instead of stopping with “don’t be anxious” he continued, “but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Paul gave them a remedy for their anxiousness. His remedy was to pray. However, he broke it down using three essential elements and one specific focus. The essential elements were prayers, petitions, and the giving of thanks. The focal point was to be God.
“Do not be anxious about ANYTHING but in EVERY SITUATION by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6
To better understand and implement the remedy let’s look at the elements first. Prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Some, including myself at one point, would say aren’t prayers and petitions, and even thanksgiving all the same thing? While, for many years I would have said yes I have come to understand the answer is truly no, they aren’t. I have learned that prayer can be very broad, such as ‘Father, help so and so’, or ‘I need such and such’, and of course the eventual and often obligatory ‘thank you for everything’ – or it can be personal (real) and relational (involving more than self) and heartfelt (attentive and faith driven). I believe the latter of the two choices is the remedy Paul spoke of. Why? Because it is when we pray relational prayers our postures change from a focus of ‘me’ to a focus of God. We’re no longer simply praying words but we are, as Paul instructs, presenting our requests to someone, and that someone is God. Once our prayers move to relational, in my experience, they also convert to heartfelt. When this happens our focus shifts from self to God, from concerns to God, from worries to God, from fears and jealousies and a myriad of other things to God. This in itself begins to calm my anxieties, but it’s the giving of thanks that really changes things. You see, when we are thanking God we are reminded of His faithfulness, not only in the present but often we will recall what He’s done in the past which tends to bring our focus full-throttle on God and results in a calming hope of what He can and will do in the future. Lest we question the validity of Paul’s teaching let’s consider and rest in what God said through the prophet Isaiah centuries before –
God will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all those whose thoughts are fixed on Him
Isaiah 26:3
So, does this mean if we pray we will never be anxious? The answer I have found is no. However, I can promise you when our anxious thoughts are truly given to God we will not stay in a state of anxiety. Instead, as Paul goes on to say, “you will experience a peace that passes all understanding and guards your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.” May we faithfully live in Him in 2022, may we become women who are devoted to prayer – with an attitude of thanksgiving being able to boast of His peace rather than wallow in our anxious thoughts.
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:6-8
Paul taught the people of Philippi to not be anxious about anything. He encouraged them to talk to God about their concerns and needs, and to set their minds on things that are true and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely and admirable. They were told to think about things that are excellent and praiseworthy. It seems Paul had learned that the best way to put out the fires of anxiety is to change the focus of his mind. – Go ahead, give it a try – I promise it works!
Reflection: What do you think about when you become anxious? Is it a help or a hindrance to the peace we read about here in Philippians – peace that guards our hearts and minds?
Read today’s devotional to find out what we should do with all of our anxious thoughts –
I invite and encourage you to join me for this final week of our study as we explore God’s gift of PEACE.
We will discover how to have peace in our hearts, minds, circumstances, and future – and then we will finish the study with a look at Mary’s song of praise. You won’t want to miss a single day!
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Week 6 Challenge: In Philippians 4:6-8 Paul tells his readers the peace of Christ guards our hearts. Hows does meditating on things that are true , worthy of respect, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy guard our hearts and minds? This week, take time to evaluate your thoughts, making sure to focus on things that match this list.
Me From the Inside Out 