I Can Do All Things

Rejoice always (4:4). “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Paul wrote these words to the believers in the city of Philippi. He was most likely in prison when he wrote them. In the Lord. Paul did not say to rejoice in good grades, new things or easy days. He said to rejoice in the Lord. Jesus never changes, so joy in Him can last even when life is hard. Joy and tears. Do you have to pretend to be happy all the time? No. You can be sad and still know that Jesus loves you and is with you. That is joy in the Lord. Say it again. Paul said “rejoice” a second time. He wanted the believers to remember it. Gentleness (4:5). “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” Gentleness is being kind, patient and fair with others, even when you could push for your own way. Known to all men means everyone should be able to see it. Near to us. “The Lord is at hand.” At hand means near. He is close to His people right now, and Jesus is coming back one day. Why gentle? When we know the Lord is near, we do not need to fight to get our way. We can trust Him and be kind. What this means for you. This week, when something goes wrong, tell Jesus one thing about Him that makes you glad. Then choose one gentle answer instead of a sharp one.

Rejoice (4:4). “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Paul most likely wrote this from prison. His call to rejoice did not come from an easy life. Always. The word always reaches into every kind of day. Joy in the Lord is not a mood we work up; it rests on who He is and what He has done. Joy beside tears. Is a believer supposed to hide sadness? No. Joy in the Lord can sit beside tears, because it rests on Him, not on how we feel at the moment. Repeated. “Again I will say, rejoice!” Paul repeats the command so the believers will remember it. Gentleness (4:5). “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” Gentleness is epieikes (say: ep-ee-ay-KACE), a fair and yielding spirit that does not insist on its own rights. It is strength that chooses kindness. Known to all. Paul wants this gentleness seen by everyone, not only by friends: at home, at school and online. At hand. “The Lord is at hand.” The words can mean near in place and near in time. He is close to His people now, and Jesus is coming again. The link. People who know the Lord is near do not need to grab, push or win every argument. His nearness frees them to be gentle. Application. Pick one place this week where you usually insist on your own way. Choose gentleness there, and thank the Lord that He is near.

Where does real joy come from? Paul said, “Be full of joy in the Lord always.” Joy in the Lord means being glad because of who Jesus is. Do we have to be happy about everything that happens? No. Some days are sad, and it is okay to cry. But Jesus is always good, and He is always with us. So we can have joy in Him every day. Paul said it twice because it matters so much. Paul said, “Let all men see that you are gentle and kind.” Gentle people do not push or shout to get their way. They are patient with others. Paul also said, “The Lord is coming soon.” Jesus is coming back, and He is near us now.

Paul said to be full of joy in the Lord. Jesus gives joy even on sad days. The Lord is near.

Worry and prayer (4:6). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” To be anxious is to worry. Not a sin to feel. Feeling worried or sad is not a sin. Tell God, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault if something scary happens to you. Where worries go. Paul shows the believers where to take their worries: to God, in prayer. In everything. Paul says to pray about everything. No worry is too big or too small to bring to God. Asking humbly. Supplication means asking humbly for what you need. God wants to hear our requests. With thanksgiving. Paul adds thanks to our asking. Thanking God reminds us of what He has already done, and that helps us trust Him with what we still need. Peace that guards (4:7). “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Surpasses means goes far beyond. God’s peace is bigger than we can explain. Hearts and minds. God’s peace stands guard over our feelings and our thoughts, the way a guard watches over a city gate. Through Christ Jesus. This peace comes through Jesus. Because He died and rose again, we can come to God with every need. What this means for you. When a worry comes this week, tell God about it, thank Him for one good thing, and tell a grown-up you trust if it feels big.

Anxious for nothing (4:6). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Anxious thoughts pull the mind in many directions, and Paul knew that struggle. Feelings and sin. Feeling worried or sad is not a sin, and it is not a sign of weak faith. Tell God, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault if something scary happens to you. What to do with worry. Paul does not tell the believers to stop feeling. He tells them what to do with a worry: turn it into prayer. Prayer and supplication. Prayer is talking with God; supplication is asking Him humbly for a specific need. Both are welcome. With thanksgiving. Thanks looks back at God’s faithfulness while asking for His help now. Remembering what He has done steadies the heart. Made known to God. God already knows our needs, yet He invites us to tell Him. Prayer is not information for God; it is trust in Him. Beyond understanding (4:7). “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God’s peace can hold a believer steady even before the problem is solved. Guard. Paul pictures God’s peace standing guard over the heart, our feelings, and over the mind, our thoughts. Through Christ Jesus. This peace is not a trick for relaxing. It comes through Christ, who opened the way to God by His death and resurrection. Application. Write down one worry. Next to it, write one thing God has already done for you. Pray about both, and tell a trusted grown-up if the worry feels heavy.

What can we do with our worries? Paul said, “Do not worry about anything.” Then he told us what to do instead. He said, “But pray and ask God for everything you need.” We can tell God about anything at all. We can also thank Him for what He has already done. Feeling worried or sad is not a sin. Tell God, and tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault if something scary happens to you. Then Paul made a promise. God’s peace “will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” His peace is like a guard that keeps our hearts safe. It is so great that we cannot understand it.

Paul said to tell God about everything, with thanks. Feeling worried or sad is not a sin. Tell God, and tell a parent or grown-up you trust.

Think on these (4:8). “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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 praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” The words. True means real and honest. Noble means worthy of respect. Just means right and fair. Pure means clean, with no evil mixed in. Lovely means pleasing and kind. Of good report means worth speaking well of. Meditate. To meditate is to think about something carefully and keep coming back to it. A guarded mind. God’s peace guards our minds (4:7), and we choose what to feed them. What we keep thinking about shapes how we feel and what we do. Hard things too. Does this mean we never think about sad or hard things? No. We can bring hard things to God in prayer, and then turn our thoughts to what is true about Him. A picture of Jesus. Many Christians see this list as a picture of Jesus. He is true, noble, just, pure and lovely in every way. Learn and do (4:9). “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul had taught the believers and shown them how to follow Jesus. The God of peace. In verse 7, the peace of God guards us. In verse 9, the God of peace Himself is with us. What this means for you. Before bed this week, name one true thing about God and one lovely thing you saw that day. Thank Him for both.

The list (4:8). “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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 praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Each word. True is what matches reality. Noble is what deserves respect. Just is what is right before God. Pure is free from evil. Lovely is what draws out love. Of good report is what is worth speaking well of. Meditate. Paul calls believers to weigh these things carefully and to keep coming back to them. Thoughts and peace. Peace guards the mind (4:7), and the mind is shaped by what it dwells on. Filling the mind with what is true makes room for God’s peace. Hard thoughts. Is this a command to ignore pain or evil? No. Paul tells believers to pray honestly about everything (4:6). After we bring hard things to God, we turn our thoughts to what is true about Him. The perfect example. Many Christians see the list as a portrait of Christ, the One who is perfectly true, noble, just, pure and lovely. Example (4:9). “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do.” Paul taught with words and with his life. The believers had listened to him, and they had watched him. The God of peace. “And the God of peace will be with you.” The peace of God (4:7) comes from the God of peace Himself, who stays with His people. Application. Pay attention to what fills your mind most this week: shows, games, worries or conversations. Each day, trade one of them for time spent thinking about something true about God.

What should we think about? Paul said, “Think about the things that are true and honorable.” He also named things that are right, pure and beautiful. God cares about our thoughts. Our thoughts help shape what we say and do. Some thoughts are unkind or untrue. God can help us turn our minds to good things. We can think about God’s Word, His world and His love. Many Christians see this list as a picture of Jesus. Jesus is true, pure and beautiful in every way. Paul also said, “Do what you learned and received from me.” Paul added a promise. “The God who gives peace will be with you.”

Paul said to think about good things. Think about what is true and beautiful. God, who gives peace, will be with you.

Friends who cared (4:10). “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” The believers in Philippi found a way to help Paul again. Not about need (4:11). “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Content means peaceful and satisfied with what God has given. Learned. Paul did not say contentment came easily. He learned it, little by little, as he followed Jesus through good times and hard times. Little and much (4:12). “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.” To be abased is to have very little. To abound is to have plenty. Full and hungry. “Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Paul had known both kinds of days. The strength (4:13). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christ gave Paul strength to trust God and do His will, whether he had much or little. Not a promise to win. Does this verse mean Jesus will help you win every game or get everything you want? No. Paul was talking about being content and faithful in every situation, and Christ’s strength helps with that. Asking for help. Does being content mean keeping quiet about real needs? No. If you don’t have enough food or don’t feel safe, tell a grown-up you trust, such as a teacher, a pastor or a relative. What this means for you. Thank God for three things you have today. When something is hard, ask Jesus to give you strength to trust Him.

Care renewed (4:10). “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” For a time the believers had no way to help. Now their care had flourished again, like a plant blooming after a dry season. Content (4:11). “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Content is autarkes (say: ow-TAR-kace), having enough within so that outward things do not rule you. For Paul, that enough was Christ. Learned, not born. Paul says “I have learned” twice. Contentment grew in him through years of walking with Christ in plenty and in need. The secret (4:12). “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” This second learned is myeo (say: moo-EH-oh), to be taught a secret. Paul had been let in on the secret of contentment. The source (4:13). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The secret is a Person. Christ gave Paul strength for whatever came, whether hunger or plenty, prison or freedom. In its setting. Is 4:13 a promise of trophies, money or success? No. All things means everything God called Paul to face, and the strength is the strength to stay faithful and content. Real needs. Does contentment mean hiding real needs? No. Paul gladly received his friends’ care. If you don’t have enough food or don’t feel safe, tell a grown-up you trust: a teacher, a pastor or a relative. Application. List what you have that you did not earn. Thank God for each one, and ask Christ for strength in one hard thing this week.

Paul’s friends showed their care for him again. Paul was very happy in the Lord. But Paul was not writing because he needed something. He had learned to be satisfied with what he had. Some days Paul had plenty. Other days he was poor and hungry. Jesus was with him on every kind of day. Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ.” He said Christ “gives me strength.” Does that mean Jesus helps us get everything we want? No. Jesus gives us strength to trust Him with little or much. If you do not have enough food, tell a grown-up you trust. Do you feel unsafe? Tell a teacher, a pastor or a relative.

Jesus gives us strength with a little or a lot. If you need food or feel scared, tell a grown-up. It is never your fault if scary things happen.

I Can Do All Things

🎉 All words found!