Saddling Up Anyway

In one paragraph

Ray preached from Philippians 4:4-9, two paragraphs he said are worth memorizing because holding on to what they say will help when life hits hard. He traced Paul's movement from urging peace between two people in the church to a wider call about what we choose to dwell on and how we pray. Ray opened by mentioning a mentor from a summer ministry in 1991, a man named Rick Tucker who wore one red...

Read together

1. Philippians 4:1 Paul's heart for the Philippians, calling them his joy and crown, urging them to stand firm in the Lord
2. Philippians 4:2 Paul urging Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord
3. Philippians 4:3 reference to true companion, Clement, fellow workers, and names in the book of life
4. Philippians 4:4 rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice
5. Philippians 4:5 let your gentle spirit be known to all people, the Lord is near
6. Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God
7. Philippians 4:7 the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
8. Philippians 4:8 think on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy
9. Philippians 4:9 practice the things learned and received and heard and seen in Paul, and the God of peace will be with you
10. Romans 15 Paul's prayer wanting to make it to Rome, used to illustrate that God does not always answer prayer the way we expect
11. John 17 Jesus praying in the garden, sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth
12. 1 Peter 5:7 cast all your cares on him, referenced as Peter saying cast your cares on him and don't reel them back in
13. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 used as the benediction, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

What was said

• Memorize Philippians 4:6-7 this week, not for a gold star but because the speaker said it will actually help you.
• When something keeps cycling through your mind and making you anxious, stop and pray about it instead of turning it over and over, then leave it with God rather than reeling it back in.
• Run whatever you are watching or scrolling through against the list from Philippians 4:8, true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy, and make a decision based on what you find.
• If you woke up thinking about somebody this week, pray for them right then rather than letting the moment pass.
• Look for one thing someone around you does that is noble or lovely and let yourself sit with that thought rather than moving on to the next bad report.

Talk about it

1. Ray talked about Rick Tucker wearing one red shoe and one blue shoe as a sign that both sides need Jesus, and he connected that to Paul urging Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Where do you find it hardest to maintain that kind of unity with other believers, and what does 'in the Lord' actually mean as the basis for it?
2. Rick Tucker used to say you can only love God to the measure that you know him. How has your own knowledge of God shaped the way you love him, and what has helped you grow in that knowledge?
3. Ray said that when Paul writes 'do not be anxious about anything,' the answer is not that God will give you exactly what you ask for, but that 'the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds.' How have you experienced that difference between getting what you prayed for and receiving peace instead?
4. Ray walked through the list in Philippians 4 and asked whether what we watch and scroll through is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy. What would it actually look like in your daily life to be more intentional about what you feed your mind?
5. Ray ended by noting that the first paragraph closes with 'the peace of God' and the second closes with 'the God of peace,' and said we tend to make war while God makes peace. Where in your life right now do you most need the God of peace to show up?