Philippians 4:8 Devotional: Finding Joy in the Small Things
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the state of the world. After all, we’re surrounded by it all the time: news, social media, and everyday conversation. . . If we aren’t intentional, it’s easy to get swept away in the tornado of stress and fear. But as Christians, we are called to rise above it.
How?
Importance of the Small Things
Last week, we discussed the first step: keeping our eyes on the Lord. If we look up and anchor ourselves to His peace and control, the world and its raging tides won’t take us down.
And as we root ourselves in God, I encourage you to treasure the small things.
Our lives are not made up of big moments, but of small seconds in between. The best fixes for big problems are small-scale behaviors.
Even Jesus said that faithfulness in the little things is the secret ingredient (see Matthew 25:21).
How to Treasure the Small Things
A couple of months ago, when I heard about Iran’s bombing, I left my stew simmering on the stove and took a neighborhood stroll for a breather. I sniffed my neighbor’s roses—pure Heaven!—and marveled at the hydrangeas next door, blooming in blues, pinks, and purples like a floral fashion show. Leaves danced in the breeze, and I stopped to pet an old orange tabby cat who flopped over for a belly scratch.
I prayed, gave thanks, and worshipped. I took deep breaths and let my mind settle. I recentered my heart and my faith, remembered God’s goodness, and rested in His presence.
That night, Greg and I savored the hearty stew and watched a cooking show—the only TV channel not trying to raise my blood pressure. Later, I sat still, listened to soothing instrumental music, and felt peace settle in.
St. Augustine said, “We make our times; such as we are, such are the times.” In whatever space God has placed you in, make the time count. Family dinners, prayers, or cheering at your kid’s softball game—build a fortress with the small moments, a high tower that no riot or bomb can shake.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).
“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Through your thoughts and actions, be intentional. Instead of joining the world’s meltdown, let’s turn on the worship music and dance (even if it’s the goofy, mom kind). Invite a friend over for a walk, share a meal, sing off-key at church, or pet a cat. Find joy in the smallest, beautiful things, because that is where the Lord’s light will shine through the darkness.
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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.
