Emotional Seed Bed – Gratitude
(7-18-04)
Phil.4:4-9
We are
truly made by God in a wonderful and marvelous fashion. How we are intricately woven together is beyond my grasp – but
I keep trying. Our emotional packaging is an intriguing aspect of how we are put together.
Many
years ago, before I cried out to the Lord Jesus for rescuing from my lifestyle I can recall some of my reasoning that compelled
me towards Him. I was lost, not only in sin and wickedness, but lost from true self. I no longer knew who I was. I didn’t
know how I should feel or think about anything – what made me laugh or cry, happy or sad, I was totally lost from the
reality of self.
What I am learning about how we are made is that what we accept about certain things effects our value system and our
value system effects how we respond emotionally to the ebb and flow of life’s moments. Paul gives us some deep insight
into our emotional ticker in His letter to the Philippian Church (and to us).
In
our reading verse 4 gives the command – Rejoice! And in verse 6 our prayers are to be filled with thanksgiving. Why
be rejoicing and thanking? Both of these are elements of gratitude and gratitude is only found in humble hearts. A proud heart
thinks it deserves what it has or thinks it deserves better than what it has, never being content. Never being grateful. A
humble heart is grateful because it knows that whatever it has, it has as a blessing from above. A humble heart rejoices.
Notice
what Paul says God does for those who rejoice and truly thank Him – He will by the means of His peace guard the heart
and the thoughts. The seed bed of our emotional packaging is our heart and our thinking. The things that our heart is attached
to will determine how we feel about what we are attached to or not attached to. And our thinking, that part of our reasoning
that plots and plans our day is governed by what we have placed value on. And what we have placed high value on has a stronger
pull on our feelings and emotions.
By
this we can see a need for our hearts to be in the right place and our thoughts to dwell on the right things if we want our
passions and feeling to be right. How we feel about something or someone is governed by our heart and the mind.
(1Tim.3:3; Titus.3:2-3; James.3:17f ; Ester 3:13b LXX)
PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but
in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
From
the readings above we begin to understand that a person maturing in the Lord will have this “gentleness” To help
get a clearer picture of this quality Paul gives us some insight into the opposing qualities in both Timothy - (not violent but gentle)
and in Titus. (Titus 3:2-3)
When we ask what it is that brings this gentleness (patient minded, modesty, moderation, reasonableness, kindness,
consideration, forbearing spirit) to the surface as an active part of our life’s expression, what do we find? I think what has the greatest effect upon our being peaceable, and forbearing is what we strive for because
of what we have placed our values and desires upon. Therefore – be rejoicing and thanking God for what we have. Be content
with His blessings. As you have wants and needs, make request and be at peace with what He blesses you with. Be willing to
humbly praise Him with thanksgiving in our hearts recognizing His generosities.
When we do as Paul instructs the Church, Then our hearts
and minds will become guarded by the “peace of God”. This is truly a wonderful and marvelous thing! Praise the
Lord!
