The journal continues...
'There is tremendous energy in the present power of a future hope.'* Because Abraham looked for a city, he was content to live in a tent. Because of the 'joy that was set before Him,' Jesus was willing to endure the cross [Hebrews 12:2]. Because of the prize of eternal life with Christ, Paul joyfully and actively waits in a prison cell.
Sometimes—or most often I should say, regretfully—I want life to be good and perfect today. And things are stealing my joy as I rest my hope in the present. I don't want life to be difficult, broken, with unanswered 'whys?'. And so, I fight against it and struggle and stand up for myself. And as I live for today, I live for myself. In contrast, Paul says, 'For me to live is Christ' [Philippians 1:21]. And he is the one with abounding joy.
My day—what happens, how the kids act, how my husband responds—is not where my gaze should be. My gaze should be on Christ. He is my prize and my future hope.
My Dare:
To not live 'aloof' to life, but to live 'aloof' to myself. What happens to me today doesn't matter. I must not 'sleep walk' through my day, but instead rejoice and LIVE—actively, purposefully, in any way possible (but especially through example) encouraging my children toward hope in Christ.
Circumstances. People. Things. These all can steal our joy, as we have seen in the first three chapters of Philippians. But, as we make our way to the fourth and final chapter, Paul brings to light another joy-stealer: WORRY.
And he begins his final words by addressing two women, which seems fitting for a chapter on worry. Women are often synonymous with worry. We mask our insecurity and lack of faith by defininig our worry as, "I care." But, in our attempts to fully care, we instead become full of care—the very opposite of the peace God intended for us.
I encourage you to begin reading Philippians 4 and join me tomorrow as we learn a practical way to bring more peace into our homes.
*Warren Weirsbe, Be Joyful
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