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.
Philippians 4:4-7
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
A while ago, I listened to a sermon of my father’s in the year before he died. None of us knew then that he was reaching the end of his strength and health. I noticed he spoke more quietly, less forcefully than usual. He gently called people by name as he preached. His quietness and the tenderness in his voice drew the listeners (and me) closer, not wanting to miss a thought. The strength of his voice was replaced by the strength of his love for us. To me, the change in his voice was arresting (and beautiful).
There is a change in Paul’s voice here in our scripture today. Paul, in his time, has been a zealous persecutor of the church. He’s been a religious perfectionist (a Pharisee). He’s been a vigorous traveler, a courageous servant of the Gospel to the point of death many, many times. He’s been a man who preached so long that a listener fell out of a window and died. (Acts 20:9) When the young man was found revived after the fall, Paul ate a snack and just kept on preaching until the sun came up. He’s fought a lifelong tendency to brag and boast about his accomplishments. He’s been compared by a town full of Greek-speaking pagans to Hermes, the silver-tongued, fast-talking messenger of the gods (Acts 14:12). But here, in our passage for today Paul leaves all that behind, and he speaks softly, gently and joyfully. It’s as though a usually forceful and talkative friend pulls us close and speaks quietly to us, eye to eye and face to face.
In spite of his imprisonment, and the Philippian church’s own trouble with persecution, he urges them to be joyful, as he is joyful. They may be miles apart from each other, they may not be able to join hands and pray together anymore, but they can match each other’s faithfulness and joyful energy.
He asks them to model gentleness to the world around them, the Roman world where might is right and brute force rules. He reminds them that the Lord is near. He recommends that when they pray, to turn everything over to God: any anxieties, any pleas, any requests they have, they should confidently give them to the Lord.
When they pray like this, Paul says the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds. NT Wright says, “Prayer like that will mean that God’s peace-not a Stoic lack of concern, but a deep peace in the middle of life’s problems and storms-will keep guard around your heart and mind, like a squadron of soldiers looking after a treasure chest.” A peace from God is possible, that is beyond an unbeliever’s understanding.
Let Paul’s quiet, gentle voice pull you in and give you God’s peace.
For Reflection
We live in a noisy world, clamoring for our attention, our votes, our ‘likes’ and our dollars. Today, notice the noise in your life. See if any of the noise brings you peace.
- What would you like for God to guard in your mind and heart?
- What would it mean for the people in your life if you spoke and acted as though the Lord was near?
- What would it mean if you led with gentleness today?
Prayer
Dear Lord, I have so many things on my mind and heart. I’m so anxious sometimes that I can’t sleep. I want to pour it all out to you, all the things that worry me, the requests that I have, and even the things I’m thankful for. Thank you for making sense of it all. Lord, help me to model your kind of gentleness and peace for others. Please guard me with that peace, as strong as an army all around me. Guard me and guide me, my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Devotionals