“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.

“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else” (Philippians 1:12-13)

No matter what happens in this life, God has promised to bring it together for good for those who love Him.  He has prepared the way and knows all that is needed.  We will either follow Him wherever He leads, or else continue in the way we are going in the rebellion against the Lord.  Live your life in such a way that it is clear whom you are following so that others may see the hope within you.

Lord, guide me into the righteousness You give knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me according to Your goodness to see that in You is the hope of every generation.  May the Gospel be spread through me as it has been through the faithful over the ages.  May I learn to be used by the goodness of the Gospel which is in me for the sake of Your kingdom.

Come Holy Spirit and use me to share the Gospel with others so that they too may live into the true and eternal life You give.  Guide me according to Your goodness in order that I may now and always look to You above all things.  In You is hope and a future.  Lead me in that hope to see that You have given the words of eternal life and that in You I will live into the promised eternal life which comes through steadfast faith by Your grace.  Amen.

“So that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:10-11).

How do you spend your time?  What gains your attention?  Are you one who is living into this life of faith you have been given in Christ, or are you living for gain in the world.  We all have those things which distract us, but work to be filled with God’s Spirit, doing that which will bear fruit.  All of this can be and is done through Christ alone, who is our hope and strength, for He alone can and does provide the grace we need.

Lord, this world has so many distractions.  We are busy and constantly on the move.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly with You, learning to live the life You give me in Christ.  Help me to know what righteousness is in order that I may be fertile soil, ready to show the fruit You are growing in me.  Lead me Lord and give me a heart to follow You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have said that only if we abide in You and You in us can we bear fruit.  Lead me now and always to bear the kind of fruit You have been planting through my life.  Lead me into righteousness.  I do not fully know what this is, but You do.  Lead me so that I may go from where I am to where I need to be.  You are my Savior and You must lead.  Lead me now and always.  Amen.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9)

Real knowledge and discernment is offered.  How many settle for what this world gives.  This world repeats the same garbage with different wrappings.  The Lord offers truth and eternity.  Come then and live into the reality which is given you through Christ.  Know that in Him is all life and truth.  Ask for discernment and the Lord will grant you His wisdom and knowledge.

Lord, teach me so that I may know truth.  You are truth and all that is or ever will be comes from You.  Humble me and bring me into Your presence in order that I may know You and all that You offer.  Let me not be swayed by this world, but transformed through the renewing of my mind so that I may live always in Your presence, purpose, and power.  Guide me, Lord, now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have the words of eternal life.  Help me to not become tripped up by the garbage of this world, but live into the truth You have revealed once for all.  You are truth and You have revealed truth through Your death and resurrection.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me as You create in me a clean and new heart.  May I always be found in Your presence and the Father’s purpose.  Amen.

“For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8)

Do you long for the saints and want to be united with them?  Are you tied to the world or to the saints?  Come into the presence of the Lord and know His goodness and mercy.  Come into the presence of the saints and know the encouragement and the strengthening that comes through fellowship.  Live into the life which is yours in Christ and show the affection He has given you by giving that affection to others.

Lord, the good infection of Your love, grace, and mercy is mine through You.  Lead me to let loose Your love in my life so that I would see others as a part of my heavenly family.  Let me not be hindered by sin, or other selfish behavior, but freed to live into this life for which You have called me.  Guide me by Your grace to look to You and be encouraged by those whom You send to surround me.

Dear Jesus, You have come to set the captives free.  You have come so that we who have new life, might have that life in You.  You, the author and finisher of faith, give faith to those who will become faithful.  Let me not buy the lie of the wicked one and think that I do not need fellowship.  Instead, richly invest me in the fellowship You have given me so that I might grow in You.  Amen.

“For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me” (Philippians 1:7).

We each have our part in the unfolding drama of salvation which the Lord has accomplished on our behalf.  Come then and rejoice in the gift you have been given, living your part.  We are those who have relinquished our selfish will so that the will of the Father would be done in us.  We are the ones who are living in the hope of the Gospel because of what Christ has accomplished for all who believe.

Lord, You have laid before us the truth of the ages.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You with Your guidance.  Confirm in me the Gospel in order that I would be willing travel any distance and bear any difficulty knowing that I too am now in adversity to this world which hates You.  Help me to be reconciled with You and not the world.

Lord Jesus, all that is needed You have already provided.  Lead me this day and help me to walk faithfully with You.  Let me care for others as You have cared for me.  Guide me in the way of the Gospel truth and help me to hold fast to all that You have revealed.  In You, Lord, is all hope and an eternal future.  Keep me abiding richly in You so that Your Gospel may radiate from me.  Amen.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

The promise of the Lord is more sure than the dirt under your feet.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of the Lord is forever.  He will perfect all who come into the gift of salvation.  And what is perfection?  To be complete as He is complete.  To be one as He is One.  To be whom He has made you to be.  This is the good work of the salvation He gives and is accomplishing.

Lord, You will not stop until the work is complete.  Lead me, Lord, along the journey of this salvation as You see it needs to be led.  Let me not resist the work You are doing but join in and be led by Your Spirit to walk each day according to Your leading.  Let me not hinder my walk by rebellion, but willingly submit to You in all things knowing that You alone are able to complete all that needs to be done.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may be in You and You in us. Guide me this day in the way You have shown me in order that I may learn and grow according to Your perfect plan.  Grant that I would be content in all things knowing that in You alone is hope and a future. Lead me Lord so that I may be led rightly and help me now and always to remain in You as You are always in me.  May I willingly follow Your lead this day.  Amen.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5).

Are you thankful for those with whom the Lord has placed you?  Be thankful and do not wish away the life you have been given.  You have been placed in the circumstances you are in for God’s will to be done.  In all things rejoice and give thanks.  The Lord, who has given you the power to become His child, has made all this possible.  Give thanks from now on for all His benefits.

Lord, teach me to have a thankful heart.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth, living in the light of your countenance with every breath You give me.  Bring to remembrance all the good things You have taught me so that I may put into practice what is right and good.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always in the way You know I need to go so that I may work with You in accomplishing Your will in my life.  Teach me to be a person of prayer.

Lord Jesus, You have guided me thus far.  Continue to strengthen me in this faith You have given me so that I may now and always be guided by You and the promises You have given me through grace.  Lead me this day to remember and give thanks.  Guide me this day to love others as You love me.  Lead me this day to go where You send me, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Amen.

“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2).

Grace and peace from God our Father.  What does this mean?  God our Father?  Be comforted in the hope which is yours.  God has shown up and given us power to become His children through the grace He purchased on the cross.  We are then united as servants, no, slaves, for we need His direction to live into the glorious hope which is ours through Christ.  He has done this!  What joy and peace this brings to those who believe in Him.

Lord, let me see through the noise and confusion of this age to understand the great offer You have given me.  You have given up Your life so that I may adopt it as my own.  You have been raised from the dead so that I may be raised from the dead.  You, who are the only begotten Son, have given me the ability to be a child of the Heavenly Father.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that we may have true life.  Help me this day to understand that only in You can we, and will we, become what has always been intended.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me.  Lead me by Your Spirit to become what You know I will be and keep my eye always on the prize.  Through You alone is there an abundance of hope!  Amen.