Philippians 4:8 (MEV) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, 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 any praise, think on these things.

I am currently reading the Book of Philippians over and over again for the current week. Today will be my fourth time reading this week. As I was in prayer yesterday my mind started to wonder and I asked the Holy Spirit to bring it back into alignment. If we allow ourselves to, we will dwell on the negative. Our minds will rehearse concerns for others, and not in a good way. We will be concerned that they are not doing what we are doing.

This scripture came back to remembrance. Then I went to Philippians again in the Modern English Version (I recommend reading different translations to get the fullness of scripture). In Philippians 1:3, right after his greeting, Paul writes, “I thank my God for every reminder of you.” Then the next sentence in verses 4 and 5 states, “In every prayer of mine for you all, I have always made requests with joy, due to your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” A joyful person is a thankful person. In our country we have this debate about whether the Christmas decoration should go up before or after Thanksgiving. I am on the team of starting earlier, just because I like to enjoy it longer. Actually, mine started October 31 because November 1 was a Sunday. I can celebrate Thanksgiving with a tree up.

Yesterday’s reading of Philippians had me circle joy or joyful and underline rejoice. I found joy/joyful five times and rejoice ten times. For a letter written by a man who is literally chained to a guard, he seems to be full of thanks and joy. He is thankful because every day he gets to share the gospel with someone new, and they cannot go anywhere but listen to him. Every one of them got to hear about Christ. He could not stop talking about Jesus and the fullness he now lived in.

Philippians 4:4 (MEV) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Yesterday were also midterm elections for us. We are waking up to some changes. We are waking up to whether what we hoped would happen did or did not. Here is where my hope lies, that God knew before we did. Things are not going to go our way all the time; can we trust Him anyways?Can we rejoice in the Lord always? I looked at the news reports and put it aside. I gave it five minutes of my time and that is all they will get. I am not going to dwell there. I am choosing a life of thanksgiving. Will I still share the good news of Christ? Yes.

Philippians 2:1-4 (MEV) If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, then fulfill my joy and be like-minded, having the same love, being in unity with one mind. Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Can you answer yes to these “if” statements? Then live in a manner like it. Something that I learned from Paul, his circumstances did not change who Christ was to him. His circumstances did not change his calling. We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation, if we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). These elections do not change that. What happens in this temporal world does not change that. Rejoice in the Lord at all times. Do not focus on the negative. Think on what is true (Jesus is Lord), think on what is honest (Jesus is enough), think on what is pure (He will see it completed), think on what is just (He has already won the victory), think on what is lovely (we are rooted in the love of Christ), think on what is of good report (all things are made through Him for Him)…if there is anything of virtue (knowing the fullness of Christ), then think on these things.

Prayer of Thanksgiving from Psalms for you to read, speak and meditate on today:

Psalms 118 (MEV) Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
because His mercy endures forever. Let Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” I called upon the Lord from my distress; the Lord answered me and set me in an open place.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can people do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph upon those who hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. All nations encircled me, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They circled me; indeed, they surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They circled me like bees; they went forth as a fire over thorns, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. You have pushed against me, that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song; He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord is valiant.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord is valiant.”
I shall not die, but I shall live and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has severely chastened me, but He has not given me over unto death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through.
I will thank You that You have heard me and have become my deliverance. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is what the Lord has done; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we ask You, O Lord; O Lord, we ask You, send now success. Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and He has shown us His light; bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.

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