Philippians 4:4-13 NIV
“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.
Was the Apostle Paul happy when he was writing his letter to the Philippians from a prison cell with a painful thorn in his side? We don’t know. What we do know is that Paul went deeper. He had the joy of the Lord and was content despite his difficult circumstances. Paul understood that joy and contentment came from within through communion with God, unlike happiness, which is fleeting because it depends on circumstances that are beyond our control. Joy is the assurance we have in Christ and its resulting effects. And contentment is knowing that this assurance is where everything we value and steward originates from.
We will never find contentment from an external source, only from God.
No matter our circumstances, we can learn how to be content. As we grow our confidence in God’s goodness, we grow a contentment on the inside that produces joy and peace regardless of outside events. Learning to be content comes from learning the word of God.
It is not enough to just know about contentment as a principle. As we learn how to practice it, we are to put these lessons to work within our lives, especially during dark seasons. By consistently incorporating gratitude, prayer, and peace in our walk, our contentment in Christ Jesus will remain strong.
“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 4:6-7
Our experiences in life can shape our belief systems, however when you place your belief in Jesus, he can shape your life. Trust the Lord to direct your path into a life of limitless joy and peace. Only when you surrender to Jesus can you experience the full power of God.
Start a gratitude journal or add a gratitude section in your notes. Write down 3-5 things that you are grateful for at the start or end of your day. Starting or ending your day with gratitude provides hope for what’s next to come!
If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.We would love to come around you for the following life events:
+ Marriages
+ Births
+ Deaths
+ Hospitalizations/Illness
Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare
Serve Day is happening Saturday, July 12th, and we want to get ALL of our crews involved in loving our city so please sign your crew up for a Serve Day project! To see the projects and sign up, please click here! Please have your form in by Wednesday, July 2nd.
When: Saturday, July 12th
Where: All VOUS Locations
Time: 10:00 AM
We are having baptisms this Sunday, July 27th, across all of our locations, and on the beach.
To sign up for baptisms, please click here.
VOUS High Camp is happening July 22–25 in St. Petersburg, FL. A four-day experience for students in 6th–12th grade to grow in faith, build friendships, and have a blast. Camp includes worship, games, lodging, meals, merch, and transportation.
To sign up for VOUS High Camp, click here.
Join us for a powerful night designed just for college students and young adults. VCOM PM Chapel is where faith and community collide — a space to encounter God, connect with others, and be stirred in your calling in the community and culture of VOUS College.
To RSVP, click here.
When: Thursday, July 17th
Where: VOUS Design District
Time: 7:30 PM
Address: 77 NE 40th St, Miami, FL, 33137
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack