The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 341




Philippians 4 New King James Version (NKJV)

Meditate on These Things

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 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 things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Christ/Messiah – Meditation in The Wisdom and knowledge of God

I do not think that the apostle, who under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has as the main subject, personal or private prayer on his mind in this section of scripture. Notice, we ought to always be rejoicing, but not overpowering, our trustworthy gentleness should be readily visible to all (corporate). Thus, our fellowship and prayer are this, the LORD is at hand! He witnesses everything we do in church fellowship.

Praying corporately, we are praying publicaly for the children of God within our local assembly, our community, our nation, our military, and other common events within the church body. This does not mean that we ought not to pray privately for these very same things—we do pray privately and that should be without ceasing.

The hindrances of corporate prayer is that we may be led to pray for something or someone that causes our mind to run to a certain event or person that takes our mind away from the prayer and purpose at hand—these distractions will destroy fellowship and corporate prayer as others may pick up on our lack of concern or even a negative response if we verbalize our thoughts.

The Holy Spirit is grieved at such, so the apostle states the following:  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 things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” We cannot promote peace with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, or with God, if we do not have in our own heart the peace that surpasses all understanding, so stop being anxious about things that are never relevant in our corporate or private talks with God.

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