Re-entry into Jesus, or, Regaining our Peace
This is a guaranteed process (if we will hear and obey) for rising out of depression, fear, worry, doubt which are those indicators that we have begun living outside of Jesus, in whom is our life. It is extremely practical, extremely easy, and extremely effective. It’s all in a few verses of Philippians.
Philippians 2:14:Do everything without complaining or arguing, (NIV) Our mouth reveals what we’re made of, what’s inside. We are to guard our mouth because life and death are in the tongue Prov 18:21), and the tongue is like the rudder of a big ship (James 3:4-5), controlling where we go. Complaining, arguing creates an environment of things to complain and argue about, and indicates that worst of all problems: outside of Christ. Therefore we need to constantly monitor our tongue and control it to steer us to the godliness which is our desire in life.
So first we keep the tongue from wrong confession or proclamation. Next we must replace the bad habit of wrong talk with the good habit of right talk. Phil 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord Always (repeat). This is easy to do. If you aren’t sure what you need to do, watch a football (either American or European or other) or basketball game and watch what the spectators do when the game is close and their team scored a winning point. That’s rejoicing! It involves not only the mouth, but body language, and also the great desire to share the moment with someone else. It involves smiles and not frowns, shouts of joy and not groans of sorrow. It does not depend on emotions, but on decision and self control.
The enemy may whisper (or shout) in your ear that rejoicing right now is a lie, a mask to hide your real feelings. Well, it should hide those feelings, because those feelings are not from God, they do not glorify God in any way. They are not the real you, they are the former you, which according the heavenly view (the Bible) have passed away when you became a new creation (2Cor 5:17). The emotions are the lie, the rejoicing is the real things. Lots on this, but too much for here and now. Psalm 42:5, 11 shows David realizing this, and speaking to himself to straighten up and fly right! The Bible says a Child of God is full of joy (John 15:11; Phil 1:26; 1 Thes 1:6 and more). When a container is full and is squeezed, what comes out is what it is full of. When problems and people squeeze you, what comes out of your mouth? Should be REJOICING if you are a child of God.
Therefore the lie is your emotions, not the rejoicing which you decide to do in obedience (trust and obey) to the Word of God even when you don’t feel like it. Remember that faith without works is dead. Thinking about rejoicing is not the same as forcing your body and mouth to actually go through the motions of rejoicing!
Quickly, Phil 4:5 says people should be able to see a Child of God in how we behave in times of crisis. Verse 6 is worth a bit more exploration. It says don’t worry about anything, but in all things let your requests be know to God with thanksgiving. Worry might be the greatest sin because it means we totally don’t know or trust Jesus. If we knew the Shepherd, we would know he can and will take care of us and ours. We would know that it is is job not just his delight, and he is faithful to do all that his Father in heaven commands him to do, which includes take care of me!
Worry is not the same as concern. In fact this verse says we should be concerned, and let our requests be known to God with thanksgiving (attitude free from worry and doubt, thanking for what you know will be a great end result, because you know him and his word (view Romans 8:28 if you aren’t sure about this).
Phil 4:7 has the result if you do this. Remember our purpose? To get back in Christ, regain the peace in Christ that is promised. The peace of God which is beyond understanding (how true! The world is still falling apart around me!) will guard my heart and my mind (the two places which have lost the peace, in which worry, fear, anger dwell). So, here we are, back in Peace, on Purpose in Christ. The result in the circumstances of our world will be awesome!
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