good words

Here's a few words from the apostle, Paul in Philippians 4:


6 Don't worry about anything;

     pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

       & thank Him for all He has done.

7 if you do this, you will experience God's peace,

     which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts & minds as you live for Christ Jesus.

dan note: What would our lives look like if we actually believed these 2 verses? Is this too simple? Too naive? Or do we simply not trust HIm enough to believe it? Or is it more of a control issue?



8b Fix your thoughts on what is true & honorable & right.

Think about things that are pure & lovely & admirable.

Think about things that are excellent & worthy of praise.

dan note: we CAN control our thinking. The more we think in right directions, the synapses between the neural pathways in our brain will become easier to move through those synapses. The more we NOT think in destructive or addictive ways, those neural pathways become more atrophied, making it harder to go in that direction of thinking. That's how habits & addictions are broken. So what Paul here is suggesting actually has a basis in truth about the ways in which would brain finds it easier to move. (Did that make sense?)



11b I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.

dan note: wouldn't it be wonderful if we could learn to live like this in our pathetically consumer oriented, materialistic culture?



13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

dan note: this is the money verse for this chapter. think about it these ways & check it meaning for you...

For I CAN do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

For I can do EVERYTHING with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

For I can do everything WITH the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

For I can do everything with the HELP of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

For I can do everything with the help of CHRIST who gives me the strength I need.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who GIVES me the strength I need.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives ME the strength I need.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the STRENGTH I need.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I NEED.

Yeah, like I said, it's the money statement in this chapter.



19 this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

And how would we then live if we REALLY believed this?