Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
The peace of God, that ineffable, totally beyond description, there are no words, peace will stand between me and discouragement. It is a promise of the Holy One who cannot lie. Conditional? Yes! I have to be in a rejoicing, praising and thanksgiving state. Or to put it another way, I have to choose to obey.
Lord, I pray for that state of Your peace for myself, but also for all that I minster to in the prisons. Lord, fill me with the message of hope to carry to the hope-less, the message of joy to the joy-less, the message of salvation to the saved-less and the message of love to the love-less.
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 33
Mid-day: 119:17-24
Evening: Psalm 108
Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore.
