In these words I give to you My response and My encouragement for the struggle through which you are now passing. You may not feel that you have someone in your life right now who can address you as Paul addressed the brethren in Philippi. But I tell you this first of all, that I can say to you, you are My beloved. And I long for you even more than Paul longed for the brethren at Philippi. And secondly, I assure you that there are those who love you very dearly, even though you may not hear words from them like those that Paul expresses in this portion. But even as he admonished the believers at Philippi to stand fast in Me and to rejoice always in Me, I admonish you to do the same. Resist feeling sorry for yourselves. If you will reflect on who I am and how I have faithfully manifested My love and My care to you, will you not find it possible to rejoice in Me, even though your present circumstances seem trying and difficult? And will you not also find such reflection on My love and such rejoicing in Me the strongest antidote to the poison of self-pity? You will indeed, I assure you! And this is truly a large part of what it means to stand fast in Me. And even though sometimes you experience buffeting, even from the brethren, and sometimes disappointment, even from those from whom you would normally expect expressions of love and appreciation, nevertheless practice what Paul admonishes the believers in this portion to do. He declares, “Let your gentleness be known to all men”. And by all men he means all kinds of people, not only those who are kind and easy to relate to, but even those who are difficult and contrary. I recognize that this is not easy and is indeed impossible for the flesh. But what you have to know is that I am near. It will seem in such circumstances that I am not near and that your emotions in the face of what treatment you may be receiving are overwhelming, but you, knowing in spite of how you may feel that I am near, allows you to make a choice to trust Me and to lean upon Me for the grace that will enable you to manifest a spirit of gentleness in the face of what may seem terribly trying and overwhelming. And there is no better way of facing and dealing with such challenges than this. And there is nothing that glorifies Me more or manifests My grace more than this. Was it not the way of My Son? Did He not manifest such a spirit to all men? And in addition to making such a choice that exhibits that you are standing fast in Me, My servant Paul admonishes you not to be anxious about anything.
Instead you are to pray and offer your supplication, your thanksgiving and your requests to Me. In doing this you will be fulfilling what I have admonished you to do, and that is to trust Me in everything and with everything. There will be times and times again when your circumstances will be trying and seemingly overwhelming. And these you will never be able to meet in the flesh. And often you may not receive comfort from anyone else, and it may seem that those who may try to comfort you will have little to give that is truly comforting. But if you are truly standing fast in Me, as My servant Paul directed and as I am here also directing you, you will find that what he declares here as being the result and the fruit will be yours. You will have My peace, and you know in your hearts that it truly does surpass all human understanding. It will indeed guard your hearts and your minds through My Son, even though your circumstances would seem to deny you any peace, any comfort, any stability.
And having this in spite of all that may seem against you, will you not be able to rejoice in Me, not just in the pleasant circumstances, but always.
And this is indeed My portion for you if you will receive it. And it is My blessing, My help, My encouragement for what you are now facing, and for every future possibility.
Tags: Choice, Gentleness, Joy, Peace, Trial Trust