Rejoice in the Presence
of the Lord

Food for Thought

The Lord is near—not a doomsday warning, but our blessed state every day.

The Word of God for the People of God

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

May the Lord bless our reading and understanding of His Word.

Reflection on the Word of God

As we listen for the word of the Lord to each of us in this passage, and to all of us in the community of shared faith, let us listen from the perspective of one of the key lines in this passage: “The Lord is near.”

This may bring to mind images of a bearded figure holding a doomsday sign, warning all to repent and turn to God. In today’s world, that might be fitting for sure. However, that is not Paul’s message in these verses. He was encouraging believers to rejoice in the presence of the Lord in order to live gentle, thankful lives of faith in God.

But, our own thoughts get in our way. We let worry get in the way. We allow anxieties to cloud our view of God. Anger and hurt feelings bind and blind us to the Presence of God. We fail to train our minds to give thanks in all things for every little blessing we can discern. There is no sorrow so deep and no crisis so horrible that we cannot find some little speck of blessing—that is, if we want to.

If we are alive, drawing a breath, that is a blessing. God gave us that breath, so He is near. Thank Him. If we are able to see or touch anything He has made or that has been made from resources He has created, we are able to give thanks. It means He is near. In everything that is true, honorable, just, pure, commendable, and pleasing to all, God’s Presence has been at work. Thank Him.

In every good relationship that brings meaning to our lives, the work of God is found in acceptance, forgiveness, assurance, comfort and peace.

Thank Him.

In every good endeavor that fulfills a helpful purpose in our lives, for family or friends, in our church, the community and the world, God’s Presence has been at work. Thank Him.

When we recognize the loving presence of the Lord near to us in all of life, it affects what we think, say and do in positive ways. For one thing, it takes the burden out of worry and renders worry powerless. When we believe that a loving God hears our prayers, it puts grateful confidence in our hearts.

Peace begins to replace the fear and anxiety; love begins to replace the anger and resentment.

When we make it our intention to fill our hearts and minds with positive thoughts, images, words and activities, the Holy Spirit begins to purify us, and a hedge of protection grows around our souls.

But, it will cost us something. To know the Lord is near, we must draw near to Him. This means taking time to draw close to Him and spend time with Him. He will do His work of Grace in you if you will give Him your time. Jesus said that anyone who follows Him must deny himself (or herself). We must make different choices about the way we live our lives.

It means beginning your day with a new orientation shaped by prayer and scripture, letting His voice be the first you hear. It also requires turning to the Lord often throughout the day, and engaging with a community of believers in a church that nurtures your soul, supporting and encouraging you to live into what you learn of His Will.

It also means celebrating His creation, loving and forgiving as He has forgiven you, helping those around you and concluding each day with a grateful review—and confession if needed (and for most of us, it will be needed often).

All of these steps toward greater awareness of God may be enhanced and strengthened through various classic spiritual disciplines. You may explore these disciplines in other areas of this website, such as the article titled Spiritual Formation Fundamentals. Knowing the Lord is near is worth making some changes in our lives! It is worth some steps of self-denial.

Rejoice! The Lord is near!

Our Response to God

May the Lord bless our hearing and doing of His Word, as we pray from our hearts:

Our Glorious Father, whose Name is hallowed above all names, we praise you for all the ways in which we know you as our Perfect Father in Heaven, our Creator Father who brings into being that which did not exist before. We worship you as our Redeeming and Forgiving Savior, Comforting and Guiding Spirit who loves us like a tender mother. You are The Omnipotent Spirit of Everlasting Being, Omniscient and Omni-Present in the universe. You are worthy of first place in our lives.

Thank you for not letting go of us, not forgetting us, not giving up on us when we rush through life without much time spent with You. We thank you for searching for us throughout our days—for searching our hearts and minds for that flicker of soul that longs for you and is ready to respond to your Love—and for meeting us there. Thank you for being near to us, nearer than our nearest breath.

We praise you for hearing us in prayer and giving good spiritual gifts so that we might become faithful children who fulfill your purpose to care for one another and live positive lives. In the light of your glory and love and by the model of your forgiveness and grace, we can live and move and have our being in more fruitful ways. We are blessed. We have you, and you are near.

Yet, we fail You, fail ourselves, and fail one another. We fail in our parenting roles, in our careers, relationships and responsibilities, and even in our church service. Yet, we have you and you are near. 

Individually and corporately, throughout the world in all our groups, companies, neighborhoods, states and nations, people fail to rise to the great potential of human beings as you designed us. We fight rather than negotiate and reconcile. We hate rather than accept and welcome. We miss the mark of greatness our souls are capable of. Yet, we have you and you are near.

From Adam and Eve until now, families have struggled to create homes where love and forgiveness are the norm. Often, instead of harmony, there are dark times of discontent, distrust and disappointment. Yet, we have you and you are near.

As St. Augustine prayed in the 4th century, we pray today….

Father, you are full of compassion, and we commit ourselves to you. Be the Goal of our pilgrimage on earth and our Rest by the way. Let our souls take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts; let our hearts, as a sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God.

We pray in the name of the Eternal Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who sends forth His Spirit and opens the pure and holy life of our Loving God to us—sinful children though we be. To God be the Glory, Amen.