"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, not unto men."

Monday:
Colossians 3:22-25, 4:1

Verse 23 has become one of my favorite verses.   I have always been someone that worries about what people think, and making others happy.  Yet, I have learned that no matter what I do to try to please people and seek after the approval of humans, I will fail and I will never make everyone happy.  However, I have found that when my heart is focused on Him in everything that I do, there is a certain joy and peace that comes with that.  Knowing that I am serving my Master.  In the best way that He has shown me.  1 Samuel 16:7 says, “…For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  I need to keep my heart in Him, focused on HIM, striving to please HIM, in all that I say, in all that I do, so that HE WILL BE GLORIFIED.  I believe that is our purpose in life, to glorify God.  The thing to remember, is to do it in EVERYTHING.  That means to me, seriously everything.  From raising my children, going to work every day, cooking dinner, and even brushing my hair in the morning.  God sees our heart… He knows where our focus is.  He knows our intentions.  So it’s not just about doing what God wants you to, but it’s about the “WHY” are you doing what God wants you to?  Are you doing it to lift up yourself?  Are you doing it for the approval of man?  Or are you doing it to bring glory to God.  I pray this morning that my heart will stay resting on HIM, and that my purpose in everything that I do is to bring glory to my Master.  I long to please Him in everything.   I know I will fail with people every single time.  However, I will strive to keep pleasing God, knowing that according to Philippians 1:6 – “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.   Service truly starts in my heart…  

Peace That Passes All Understanding...

Friday:

Philippians 4:2-23

This section of scripture is my favorite in the Bible. ☺ I am going to share a little more personally this morning, so I hope you are not bored by my words. I have had anxiety attacks on and off for the past 6 or 7 years. These attacks are anywhere from mild to extreme. For those of you that don’t know, an anxiety attack can happen at anytime, and isn’t just because you are upset about something. Anxiety attacks can simulate an actual heart attack (I know this from research, AND my own personal experience). I started to see a Christian counselor after the first 6 months (seeking Christian counsel was BY FAR one of the best things I have ever done). The very first thing this counselor told me – actually was my ‘homework’ for my first session – to memorize the following scripture: 

Philippians 4:6-7 “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

Over the next couple of years, I cannot begin to tell you how much that one little passage came to mind Daily, weekly, and now about once a month. I wrote it on my heart, and what I didn’t understand completely at the time, I did anyway, and God has used it over and over and over. While the anxiety/panic attacks were a medical issue, they were still an emotional one. Emotionally and physically I could not control those attacks. However, I could come to God and pray and ask Him to harness those emotions, and He would remind me in MANY ways how much I am loved, and how much HE will provide! After studying that scripture I began to stay in His Word every day, and grow more and more, and through the daily time with God, I began to be drawn closer to Him. I was able to stop taking all the medication I had been put on for the anxiety, and then able to drop a few pounds that I had put on from the medicine. Nick and I both were sent back to work (on the same day!! – just about at the same moment!). 

So, when I read this morning, I can’t help but give praise to God for all He has done for me in my life. For all He has supplied for me. I was at the bottom – emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. And I was able to come out because of the strength of Christ – Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – not on my own strength – but through HIS strength. Thinking about the money that wasn’t in the bank, the jobs we didn’t have, the weight that I couldn’t shed because of the medicine, or how my physical body was out of control, my heart racing out of my chest – I knew thinking about those things was not a help to me. Look at verse 8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – 

These are promises that we have from the ALMIGHTY GOD! These are promises that we have from the Creator of the Universe! We are promised that we WILL have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” – I can think about peace and understand it, but the peace of God passes all of my understanding – it is a peace far beyond what we can even think about. A peace that can control anxiety attacks. A peace that can give us comfort when we are hurting. 

Dear Lord,
I thank you this morning for the peace you have given us. Please bless us today, and help us to be honoring to you.
Amen.

That I May Know Him...

Thursday:

Philippians 3:1-4:1

I believe one of the general truths this morning that spoke to me the most was that I am still a work in progress. Working every day to be more like Christ, and to know Him more. I need to depend not on my own works to get me where I need to be, but on Christ to get me there. A couple of verses that stood out to me:

V.10 – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (KJV)

V. 13 – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (KJV)

V.14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

I think verse 14, probably stood out to me the most. Not because it is a verse we may all know well, but because of the study notes in one of my study bibles. The notes say that the Greek word for ‘press on’ “was used of a sprinter, and refers to aggressive, energetic action. Paul pursued sanctification with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle to win the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 12:1).” (The Macarthur Study Bible) This morning I was feeling very ‘worn out’. And then I read the verses, and see that I need to “aggressively” press on? I just didn’t feel like I had any more “aggression” or “energetic action” to give. Then I went back and read the verses again, and realize, that while we need to put forth our very best, and everything we can, that we need to get that energy and aggression from God. I need to ask Him for the strength, because as I have seen all week, that strength is not found in myself. I find that strength in Him.

I am so thankful for the truths this morning, and the blessing from His Word.

Dear Lord,

Thank You, again for blessing us with another day to serve you. Thank you for reminding me that I need strength from you, not from myself. And thank you for showing me how to press on towards you. Please draw me closer to you. Help me to be an example to others, and help me see the example in others.

Amen.

Not Regarding My Life...

Wednesday:

Philippians 2:18-30

This morning I found encouragement while reading about Epaphroditus. The people knew that Epaphroditus had been sick and Paul wanted the people to know that God had mercy on Epaphroditus and Paul.  The verses tell us that Epaphroditus was sick and came close to death “for the work of Christ”. That last verse is where I found the most encouragement and instruction this morning.

Verse 30:  “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.”

I ask myself, What have I sacrificed for the work of Christ?  Do I just give up sometimes when I am tired, sick, weak?  I am reminded to find my strength in Christ, and continue working for Him.  Reminded to continue working for Him in the way I have read about the past few days.  For in nothing be ashamed, with boldness, magnifying Christ in my body (Ch.1, V.20), And with other believers being likeminded, being like Christ, a servant, with the humility of Christ.

The Humility Of Christ...

Tuesday:

Philippians 1:26-2:18

This morning I am reminded of how to conduct myself as a Christian.  Not just as an individual, but with other believers also.  One part that stood out the most to me was verses 2-3.  “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (KJV)  Isn’t that the humility that Christ showed us when he “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”(KJV)? 

Do I carry myself as a Christian?  Isn’t the word Christian “Christ-Like”?  When I am with other Christians do we act like Christ, do we shine as lights?  Verse 14 stood out to me regarding this.  “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”(KJV)   I am sure that Satan is excited when we are disputing with other Christians, because how quickly that ruins our example to this “crooked and perverse nation”.   I pray that I learn to have the humility of Christ. 

Dear Lord,

Please help me learn to be a humble servant for you.  Help me to be a light, and help me with other Christians to not lose sight of the example that Christ gave me when He humbled himself and became like man, and suffered on the cross, for MY sin.

Amen. 

In Nothing I Shall Be Ashamed...

Monday:

Philippians 1:1-26

Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while he was a prisoner in Rome. I am inspired by the joy that Paul has even though he is in prison, and knew his life to be at stake. Paul could see that his circumstances had furthered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because of his boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, others found boldness to do the same. Some were preaching the Gospel out of envy of Paul (V.15), others out of love (V.17), but regardless, Paul saw that the Gospel was being preached. Paul was also able to preach from prison to the many guards that were assigned to him. So, Paul could see that his imprisonment was a good thing.

There were two other things that stood out to me this morning. One was verse 20 -

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” (KJV)

Paul knew that regardless the circumstances or outcome (whether he be released, or put to death) that he was going to magnify Christ. And what a powerful example that we have in Paul. He says, “in nothing I shall be ashamed”. How many times have I been quiet when I should have stood up for Christ? How many times have I not told someone about Jesus because I was afraid of what they would think of me? Paul was not ashamed; he wanted to share the Gospel. He could be put to death. What is the worst that would happen to me? An ‘uncomfortable situation’? I am ashamed that there have been opportunities that I have had that were ‘uncomfortable’, so I didn’t tell the person about Jesus. And yet, Paul preached the Gospel knowing that he could be put to death!

The other was V. 21 “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (KJV). He knew that as long as he continued to live he was going to serve Christ, and if he were killed, he would be with Christ. So either way, he saw the good. He wasn’t afraid of what could happen to him. Either way was good for him. He had a desire to be with Christ, which he says in V. 23 is far better than to live, but he saw the need for him to continue his earthly service to Christ. Would I be ok with dying for Christ? When I am often afraid to just speak up in a conversation?

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the encouragement, blessing, and instruction of your Word today. Thank you for the example of Paul and his boldness. Please help me today to be an example for others in the things I say and do, and help me to have the boldness to tell those you put in my path about you.

Amen.