Final Exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(A) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(B) Do not be anxious about anything,(C) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(D) And the peace of God,(E) which transcends all understanding,(F) 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.

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(A)Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Let your [a]gentleness be known to all men. (B)The Lord is at hand.

(C)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with (D)thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and (E)the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

Finally, brethren, whatever things are (F)true, whatever things are (G)noble, whatever things are (H)just, (I)whatever things are pure, whatever things are (J)lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:5 graciousness or forbearance

(A)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. (B)The Lord is [a]near. (C)Do not [b]be anxious about anything, but in everything by (D)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And (E)the peace of God, which surpasses all [c]comprehension, will (F)guard your hearts and (G)minds in (H)Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, (I)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [d]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:5 Or at hand
  2. Philippians 4:6 I.e., have anxiety
  3. Philippians 4:7 Lit mind
  4. Philippians 4:8 Or lovable and gracious

4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

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