“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27)

Do you just behave yourself when another is watching?  Do you put on pretenses when certain people are around?  Be consistent in this gift of faith and work toward being the same person regardless of where you are or who is watching.  You are always in the presence of the Lord and He is making of you one who is a child of the Heavenly Father.  Look to where you are going and not where you have been.

Lord teach me to be consistent.  I am influenced by this crazy world and worry about what others think.  Help me to not care too much what they are thinking, for I truly do not know; but help me to act consistently in a manner that puts the best possible construction on the expression of my faith.  Lead me into the life You have promised so that I may, at all times, live in the hope You have given me.  Help me to always stand firm in the truth.

Lord Jesus, You are leading the way for all the faithful.  Guide me this day and work on those places where I am not consistent with what I do in my private versus my public life.  Help me to always see where I need to follow You and then give me a willingness to follow.  Lead me this day, O Lord, so that I would walk where You lead, do what You give me to do and be a witness of the hope You have placed within me.  Amen.

“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again” (Philippians 1:25-26).

What is the hope of glory?  Is it for yourself?  May it never be!  To live is Christ – Paul just said that – so live for Christ.  May He be the object of what you do.  Abound in Christ and share Him with others so that they may know the glory of Christ overcoming death and the grave.  Be one who is in progress in the faith and sharing with others as others have shared with You the truth of the Lord.

Lord, I am often intimidated by this word and this is crazy.  Help me instead to be bold in faith and live into the promise You give me by faith.  Guide me according to Your purpose to see that in You alone is all hope and glory.  May my eyes turn to You and share what I see with all others whom I meet knowing that only in You is there abundant life now and the promise of life eternal.  Guide me into this new life You give.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me this day, Lord, in order that I may speak of Your goodness and mercy to all whom I meet.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I may be one who openly shares Your life with those whom I meet.  Guide me now and always in the truth of Your love so that I am known as one of Your followers!  Amen.

“But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (Philippians 1:23-24).

Do as the Lord chooses for you to do.  Live according to His will.  The Lord will do what He does through you and it will work out.  You have His promise.  Be guided not by the whims of this world, but by the earnest desire to be on the journey of faith wherever it will lead you.  The winds of this world will always blow contrary to the truth of Christ.  It will be contentious until we arrive home.  Live for Christ as He died for you.

Lord, help me to see more clearly the truth which You have revealed for all to see.  Lead me in the Gospel way so that I would walk according to Your direction and in the Father’s will.  Through all things, help me to be obedient in order that I would do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Teach me what is necessary to and what is not needed.  Guide me to simply do as You would have me do.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way so that we would do what is necessary according to the Father’s will.  Help me not be confused by these things, but to trust that all will work together for good as is promised for those who love You.  Lead me this day to do good, seek You, and love my neighbor.  Through all things, keep my eye on the prize so that I may walk this life in and through faith.  Amen.  

“But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose” (Philippians 1:22).

We are at an impasse.  There is the tug of leaving behind this world of sin and turmoil.  But then, there is the desire to do what the Lord would have us do.  The Lord commanded that we be fruitful and multiply.  He was talking about bearing the fruit He causes us to bear and multiplying His kingdom.  Come then into the reality of His realm and live as He will have you live.

Lord, I am anxious for many things, but You taught Martha to not be anxious for anything, but to chose the better part.  Help me to learn what this means.  Guide me into the kind of life You have chosen for me and grow me in the grace You give.  Lord, let me not be worried about my future, but trust by faith that You have planned all that is needed in order to accomplish what You will accomplish.

Lord Jesus, You came as a willing and dutiful Son doing the Father’s business.  Lead me according to the Father’s will to abide in You and You in me so that I may bear much fruit.  Let me not worry about what this means, but trust that all things are in Your hands.  Help me to always chose You and the Father’s will.  Help me to live according to the promise You have given me.  Amen.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Many have heard this Scripture.  Few realize the truth of this.  This world is filled with turmoil.  We struggle against principalities and forces.  Life is in Christ, for He is the author and finisher of our faith.  Apart from Him, we can do nothing.  If you hear nothing else, hear this: the absolute centrality of Christ.  This is not said lightly, but it is the truth.  Live in, for, and with Christ!

Lord, I often take my faith too lightly.  I do not act as if You are above all things, but You are.  Lead me away from being so trivial and into a life that knows You are central to all things.  Guide me according to Your principles to live for You knowing that the day is shortly coming when I shall be with You in eternity.  Guide me always along the way so that where You are, there I too shall be also.

Lord Jesus, You are the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father apart from You.  Guide me, Lord, to live into this life You have made possible for me through grace.  Let me not be afraid of death, for it is before us all, but knowing that You have already overcome death and that when that day comes, I shall stand before You face to face.  Guide me, Lord, in Your goodness to live for You as You have died for me.  Amen.

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:19-20).

We humans worry about what the future will bring.  The future is not in our hands.  Sinners are in the world and they bring bad things into this world.  God brings grace and mercy.  The two will play against each other until the end of the age.  What then?  Only this: look to the Lord knowing that all things are in His hands.  Rejoice always in the Lord and live in His promise.

Lord teach me the simplicity of loving and living in Your presence and will.  Guide me away from fretting over things I can do nothing about, and help me to live into the hope You give through grace.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  Keep me close to You, knowing that all things, time included, are in Your hands.  Then lead me to live as one who is always in Your presence.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the example of how to live.  You knew You would die.  Unlike us, You knew where and how.  But You pressed on.  Lead me to learn how to press on so that I may live the life You have called me to live.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope and the only future worth living.  Let me be afraid of nothing because I know You are with me and for me.  Amen.

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18)

You see, it does not matter so much how Christ is proclaimed, only that He is proclaimed.  The Lord is Lord of all and He will show Himself to all so that they may have a chance to live into the promise given by grace.  We have our systems, but never mistake what we do as the thing itself.  The Lord knows all that is needed and will give grace and mercy to those to whom He will give it.

When you encounter another who thinks these things unfair, you are hearing the rebellion of this age which is really saying, “Do things my way.”  There is only One who is Lord and Master.  Proclaim this truth in love through all you do.  Be guided not by vain ambition, but by the goodness and mercy of our Savior.  He alone accomplished our salvation and in Him alone do we have true hope.

Lord Jesus, this world is filled with conflicting ideas.  Guide me, O Lord, to live into the life You have given me so that I may now and always be guided by You and the good Gospel you have proclaimed through Your life, death, resurrection, and ascension.  Lead me always in the way of truth so that no matter how Your name is proclaimed, I may rejoice that You are being made known.  Amen.

“The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment” (Philippians 1:16-17).

The behavior of people has been the same over the ages.  Some see living in this world as a conflict and battle.  Others are constantly seeking for gain.  The Gospel comes and many do not know what to do with it.  God loves you and has prepared the way for you to join with Him in eternity.  Some will move along this path for their own reasons, but the Lord knows our hearts.  Why are you reading these words?

Ultimately it boils down to the words, “Thy will be done.”  Either it will be us saying to the Lord, “Thy will be done,” or else the Lord saying to us, “Thy will be done.”  No matter what anyone says, this is the final destination.  Where will you be?  Who is going to rule your heart?  Will it be you or will it be the Lord.  You cannot serve two masters.  This has always been the question before us.

Lord Jesus, grant that I would accept Your grace and live into the life You give me through that grace.  Lead me to stop the rebellion that is in me so that I may live into the life You give.  Guide me today and every day in order that I may now and always live for You and the kingdom You give.  Lead me to have pure motives and seek the Father’s will in and through all the things I do.  Amen.

“Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will” (Philippians 1:15)

You and I do not know what is in the heart of another.  This is why the Lord reserves judgement for Himself.  Only He who knows the heart can rightly judge.  We are allowed to judge based upon what we see, but always with the goal of restoration of the wandering brother or sister.  Above all of this, Christ is proclaimed.  Come then and join in the proclamation of Christ.

Lord, You have a reason for everything, even the bad press You often get.  There are preachers and teachers who are driven by self-motivation, but You use all things to bring together Your purpose in this world.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may be a help to You and proclaim with a pure motive, Your truth.  Lead me Lord to have the right attitude and heart in all things.

Come Holy Spirit and sift my heart so that I may have the envy and strife removed from my heart.  Guide me according to Your purpose to live into the hope which is mine in You that I may be guided by You and not by the fears inflicted by this world.  Let me be one who is of good will so that I may live a life that proclaims Your presence and purpose.  May I be a faithful witness of Your grace now and always.  Amen.

“And that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Philippians 1:14).

When we are willing to step out in our faith, we become an encouragement to others.  Being bold is not just about not being afraid, but about stepping beyond our fears to speak and do what is right.  The Lord will lead us where we need to go.  The Lord will give us the strength we need.  Be courageous, be bold, and walk with the Lord so that He may empower You to live His Gospel.

Lord, You call each of us through our baptism to become as You intend and as You showed us how throughout Your Incarnation.  Guide me, Lord, to walk in faith and live boldly for You.  Help me when I doubt and help me to see how much I am encouraged by others in order that I may become an encouragement to others as well.  You, Lord, have called me into a new life amidst a hostile world.  Lead me in the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world so that all who follow You would have the opportunity to become as You are: a willing and obedient child of God.  Lead me where I need to go this day and help me through all of the obstacles that will come my way so that I may be bold in the proclamation of my faith.  Help me now and always to overcome my fears so that I would never deny You, my Lord.  Amen.