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Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful! Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. Don\u2019t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray and give thanks to him. Then God\u2019s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God\u2019s peace can never be completely understood\u201d (Philippians 4:4-7).

We will get back to Deuteronomy later this week. As today is the first day of school, it seemed right to give some encouragement to all those who are setting out with apprehension or maybe ending the day in exhaustion. I acknowledge that since all our children have left the nest, this day does not hold the same gravitas for me which it once did.

I think that Paul\u2019s words in our text can help us stand above the fray which this day often holds. Joy may not be the primary emotion many of us feel today. But notice the reason given for joy: \u2018you belong to the Lord.\u2019 This simple phrase awakens memories of Israel moving through the wilderness with manna from the Lord each morning. It harkens back to the theme of Psalm 23, \u201cThe Lord is My Shepherd\u201d and echoes Jesus words in Matthew 6, \u2018do not worry\u2019 and Psalm 46, \u201cGod is our place of safety. He gives us strength. He is always there to help us in times of trouble.\u201d

Belonging to the Lord leads to an inner wellbeing, but also to an assurance that God provides for our physical and spiritual needs. So, no matter what lies before you this day, no matter how difficult it has been, remember \u201cyou belong to the Lord.\u201d This is our joy; he is our place of safety. He has walked before his people since Abraham, he will not abandon us now.

Out of this place of safety and joy we can demonstrate our gentleness. We are not a grasping people desperately clutching for material possessions, power, or prestige. In the hear and now, the Lord keeps us safe providing for us and in the future our place is secure. The whole movement of scripture is towards the full redemption of the cosmos. All those who follow Jesus have a place in that redemption. No questions asked. Be gentle. Don\u2019t add stress to other people\u2019s lives. Remember who you are so that your gentleness can be a gift to many.

And rather than worry pray. Here is a spiritual discipline all of us ought to pursue. Worry is not something we choose. It happens to us. But we do not have to feed it. We can turn it into prayer. If prayer is conversation with God which most often begins with us talking to him, then when we set our hearts on prayer, we will remember who we are, to whom we belong and where we are going.

As we become aware of these things again, they begin to dispel the worry. When worry gets washed away, there is room in our hearts for thanksgiving. The fruits of thanksgiving are joy and peace. God\u2019s peace guarding our hearts and minds dispels worry and develops gentleness in us.