Philippians 4:2-23

4:5 | Gentleness means being reasonable - not so concerned with unimportant matters that a person fights over nonessentials.

4:6-9 | Believers who take their anxiety to God in prayer discover the peace of God (Isa. 26:3; John 14:27; 16:33; Col. 3:15). They are also promised something even better: the God of peace Himself - His protection, presence, comfort, and encouragement (Rom. 15:33; heb. 13:20). When the problem is worry, the prescription is prayer, proper thinking, and proper responses.

4:6 | The opposite of peace is worry. The Greek word for anxious means to have “a mind divided” between legitimate thoughts and destructive thoughts. Destructive thoughts will choke out the Word of God and cause believers to abandon trust (Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25; 13:7; Luke 10:41; 1 Pet. 5:7).

4:8 | The Greek word translated meditate means “to ponder, consider, value, give proper weight to.” Right thinking will win the battle against worry.

4:11-13 | Paul’s life and words demonstrate that contentment everywhere and in all things is: (1) learned behavior; (2) not dependent on circumstances; (3) a state of being, not doing (be content); (4) based in the riches of Christ.

4:11-12 | The Greek word for Contentment is also translated “satisfied, adequate, competent, or sufficient.”

Contentment is a choice, cultivated by continually resisting the discontented spirit of the age; it is not happenstance!