Dec 16 - Philippians 4:4,6,5

Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I will say, Rejoice.

Do not worry about anything.

The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:4,6,5

One of the key themes at Christmas is "peace." Jesus himself is indeed the Prince of this great gift. Well, Philippians 4:4-7 is the formula that adds up to peace -- indeed, "7 the peace of God which surpasses all understanding."

If you want to give yourself a simple Christmas gift, memorize this formula, memorize verses: Philippians 4:4-7.

• "Pray[er]" connects us personally to God.
  
• "Thanksgiving" and "rejoic[ing]" help us look up to God -- instead of looking down in "worry."
  
• Our actions and obedience -- "let[ting] our gentleness," for example, "be known to everyone" -- train our habits in the ways we should go ... until gentleness, kindness, service, and forgiveness become who we are.
  
• And knowing that "the Lord is at hand" means that I've got a partner walking beside me, even when things don't feel peaceful.

Wait?! There's only one problem with memorization ... we don't like to do it!!! It's like work.

Here's where I'm going to point you to my son, Jay. To train these young naval officers how to memorize, these young midshipmen (in their first gruelling year) are required to memorize all fifteen meal options four meals ahead. (You have your choice of roast beef with pepper gravy or beef Chow Mein with Cashews and Red Peppers. The vegetables are cooked carrots and broccoli with cheese sauce. There is also Potatos au gratin sprinkled with bacon bits, red cabbage cole slaw, and a chef's salad with your choice of Ranch, French, Blue Cheese, or Low Fat Vinegrette dressing. Served with the meal are whole wheat rolls with butter, iced tea, and coffee. For desert is blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream or chocolate iced brownies with walnuts.)

One, I wish I ate that well. But two, why is this method of memorization so effective? The theory is, if you can memorize something with zero lasting importance -- and which changes every six hours -- then you can memorize large amounts of critical information in the heat of battle.

So ... memorizing Philippians 4 (see the verses below) should be easier than memorizing menus. Why? 1) The words here have eternal significance; 2) God's truths -- as opposed to menus -- never change; and 3) we are in a battle with sin, death, and discouragments (that's what worry is). Let's fight it with truth.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's thankful at Christmas

that the Lord is at hand. 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Do not worry about anything,

but in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7