Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Phil 4:4-9 NIV)
When it gets really hard at times to rejoice and to gentle in my interaction with others, I find that it is best if I just find a place to be alone with God. It helps me to read or listen to his word. My attitude gets an adjustment when I speak with him and listen to him.
Any anxieties or frustrations I may have been harboring slip away when I purposefully enter into God's presence and I can then reenter the world and interact with others in a much more gentle and pleasant manner. Yes, I can be pretty ugly when I find myself in a place where there is a lot of inappropriate language or activities going on. When I find myself getting frustrated it is time to step back before I react inappropriately.
Sometimes, we need to step back and think on all that God has done for us and all that he is for us so that we can serve him and others with joyful spirits. Remembering that Jesus died for us helps set the matter in a better perspective. Rejoice in the Lord always for he has done marvelous things!
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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