Promise for Today - Bring On the Joy

It does not matter! I am happy about it—just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy.

 Philippians 1:18 (GNT)

In Philippians 1:15-17, Paul talks about different kinds of people who are affecting his ministry while he’s a prisoner in Rome. There are some he considers comrades who encourage him in his ministry. Others are criticizing, competing with, or conspiring against his ministry.

“Some of them preach Christ because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine goodwill. These do so from love, because they know that God has given me the work of defending the gospel. The others do not proclaim Christ sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think that they will make more trouble for me while I am in prison” (Philippians 1:15-17 GNT).

Few things steal your happiness faster than being criticized or feeling like others are working against you. It’s easy to let other people control your attitude. Why? Because we all want to be loved. We all want approval. We all want people to like us.

You don’t need other people’s approval to be happy. You’re as happy as you choose to be! If others are unhappy with you, that’s their choice. If you haven’t earned someone’s approval by now, you’re probably not going to get it—and you’re going to be miserable if you try to live for the approval of everybody else. Your joy comes from God! But if you want to be truly happy, you need to remember that Jesus is the source of your joy.

Paul explains later in the same chapter why you can be happy no matter what: “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it” (Philippians 1:29-30 NLT).

Paul says it’s a privilege to suffer when you’re doing the right thing, because that’s when you’re most like Jesus. Don’t let what other people say or do control your happiness. Your joy comes from the Lord!

Talk It Over

Whose approval have you been working to obtain? Why do you think you need that person’s approval?

Why is there more freedom in God’s approval than in another person’s approval?

When you feel attacked or criticized, how might God be working in you and through you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We pray, above all, according to Your Word, that we continue to live as citizens of heaven, conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. That we will continue to stand together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. We choose to keep our eyes, hearts, and minds focused on You. We lift Habakkuk's "Hymn of Faith" in praise to You. "Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls - Yet [we] will rejoice in the Lord, [we] will joy in the God of our salvation. Bring on Your Joy, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - It's All In How You Look at It

I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 

Philippians 1:12 (NLT)

No matter what’s going on in your life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—God is working out a plan. Paul knew this. When you don’t see things from God’s point of view, you get discouraged, frustrated, and unhappy. If you want to be happy, you need to look at every problem from God’s perspective. Happy people have a larger perspective. They see the big picture, like God does. 

After Paul became a Christian on the road to Damascus, he had one great dream: He wanted to preach in Rome, the center of power in the known world at the time. His dream was to preach the gospel in the most important city in the world. But God had a different plan. Instead of sending Paul to Rome to preach crusades, God allowed him to become a royal prisoner of Nero. Nero was Caesar at that time—and a wicked and corrupt leader.

As a prisoner, Paul was chained to a rotation of royal guards every day for two years. That means Paul had the opportunity to witness to thousands of guards. Who was the real prisoner here? Who had the captive audience?  This wasn’t Paul’s plan, but it was God’s plan all along, and it produced amazing effects. There were two results that we know for sure.

First, Philippians tells us that the gospel became known throughout the whole palace guard, and that even some of Caesar’s own household had become believers because of Paul’s witness in Rome.

Second, it was kind of hard to get a guy like Paul to stop moving. In prison, he was forced to be still, and, as a result, he wrote much of the New Testament, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These books have revealed Jesus to countless people over the years.

Paul realized that God had a bigger plan. Because he trusted what God was doing through his problems, Paul could be happy.

Any time you have a problem that’s starting to get you down, you need to do what Paul did: Learn to see it from God’s point of view. Ask, “What is God doing here? What’s the bigger picture? What’s the bigger perspective?” Then you’ll be able to face the problem in faith.

Talk It Over

Think of a problem that is discouraging you. How does your discouragement change when you look at the problem with God’s bigger perspective?

Why do you think God is allowing you to struggle through a hard time?

How have you seen God work in the midst of a difficult situation in your past?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,
            We pray according to Your Word. You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. When we feel overwhelmed, we will take heart, knowing that You have overcome the world. Help us to stand firm and move forward, believing that we are more than conquerors - we are overcomers through You. We believe and proclaim Your Truth that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. In Jesus'Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Looking for Progress

“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” 

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

When my kids were little, they would bring pictures to me that they had drawn and say, “What do you think of this, Daddy?” I would tell them, “That’s perfect! It looks great.” When I told them it was perfect, I didn’t mean that it was a Picasso. I loved what they had created because it was perfect for that stage in their lives.

In the same way, God doesn’t wait until you’re mature to start loving you. He loved you before you were born. He doesn’t wait for you to clean up or straighten up before he thinks you’re good enough for his love. You shouldn’t do that with others, either. You’ve got to love them, warts and all. You’ve got to be patient with their progress.

The apostle Paul is a great example of this with the church in Philippi. Paul knew God was doing a good, long work in the lives of the people in the Philippian church, and Paul was patient with their progress. Being patient with other people’s progress is an essential part of happiness. Why? If you’re always expecting perfection in people before you can enjoy a relationship with them, then you’re never going to be happy. That’s because nobody’s perfect—especially you.

Here’s a little happiness hint: If you want to have happier and healthier relationships, then celebrate how far people have come rather than judging them for how far they still have to go. You’ve got to be patient with people’s progress.

To be able to celebrate people instead of judging them for their imperfections, you need patience. And the key to patience is love. Paul says in the next verse, “It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart” (Philippians 1:7 NLT).

“In my heart”: Allowing other people to have a special place in your heart is a key to happiness. When you love and celebrate people and focus on their steps forward, then you’re going to build healthy, happy relationships.

Talk It Over

What effect does it have on you when your friends celebrate your success?

How does remembering God’s love for you help you love others well?

If you don’t consider yourself a patient person, what are some ways you can cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in your life?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for loving us before the foundation of the earth. Give us eyes of love to see the steps forward that our family and friends - and even we - are making. Help us to show our joy in their successes and loads of mercy when needed. Remove judgment and a critical spirit from our hearts so we have more room to give our people a special place instead. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Power of Prayer

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

Paul didn’t just pray for the people in his life. He prayed for them with joy!

There are probably things in other people’s lives you’d like to change. You don’t want to change yourself; you want them to change. You can’t make them change—but you can, however, pray and let God do his work in other people.

Positive praying is more effective than positive thinking. All the positive thinking in the world isn’t going to change your spouse, child, friend, or situation. Positive thinking might change you, but it won’t change somebody else. But positive prayer can make a difference in both you and others.

What’s the quickest way to change a bad relationship into a good one? Start praying! It will change you, and it may change them, too.

From our text for today, we can learn to pray for the people in our lives in four ways:

Pray that they will grow in love: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight ...”

Pray that they will make wise choices: “...so that you may be able to discern what is best ...”

Pray that they will live with integrity: “...and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ ...”

Pray that they will become like Jesus: “...filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Pray this for yourself and for other people in your life. Then watch how God turns around even those relationships that have seemed hopeless.

Talk It Over

Think of a strained relationship in your life. Take time now to pray that the other person will grow in love, make wise choices, live with integrity, and become like Jesus.

How does positive prayer change you, and not just the person you are praying for?

Take a moment and read Galatians 5:22-23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

How are you seeing more of this “fruit” in your life as you follow Jesus?

 - by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We pray as Paul prayed, that our love will abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we will be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of You, O God! Give us clean hands and pure hearts, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - Selective Memory

I thank God for the help you gave me. 

Philippians 1:5 New Century Version

Paul wrote the book of Philippians to the church he planted in Philippi. There, a woman named Lydia opened up her home and, along with others, welcomed Paul to the city. The Philippian church even helped fund Paul’s missionary journeys. The thing is, Paul didn’t have a good time in Philippi. In fact, it was one of his toughest churches to get started. When Paul went to this city to start a church, he was beaten, whipped, humiliated, falsely arrested, and thrown into prison. He even survived a major earthquake! Then he was asked by the city leaders to leave town.

Yet Paul told the believers, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” Philippians 1:3 NLT.

What is Paul doing here? He is choosing selective memory. Philippi was not a happy place for Paul. He endured a lot of persecution and suffering during his time there. But he chose not to dwell on painful memories. Instead, he expressed his gratitude for the good things done for him and through him.

The longer you know someone, the more likely you are to take that person for granted, to look for faults, and to remember the bad things instead of the good things. Are you still clinging to painful memories of people who are still in your life? Maybe you’ve never let them off the hook for mistakes they made years ago. You can’t enjoy those relationships today because you’re still holding on to the past.

You need to understand that memories are a choice. I’ve mentioned a story before about Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross. A friend reminded her of a particularly cruel thing somebody had done to her years before. The friend asked, “Don’t you remember?” Her famous reply was, “No, I distinctly remember forgetting it.”

Your memories are a choice. If you want to hold on to your painful memories, go right ahead. But you’re not going to be happy. Paul had a lot of reasons to focus on painful memories of Philippi. But he chose instead to be grateful for the people in his life and God’s work in and through them.

When you do the same, God will bless your relationships far beyond your expectations.

Talk It Over

Why is it sometimes easier to hold on to painful memories than to replace them with good ones?

How does focusing on good memories change your expectations for the future?

How will you express gratitude today for the people God has placed in your life?

- Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to see Your side of our life with Your Light that overcomes the darkness. Help us to hold onto the peace that is ours when our mind is fixed on Christ our Lord. Give us Your strength and wisdom to choose to think only on those things Paul pointed out to the church in Philippi; that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. We choose to make these our selective memories by Your mercy and by Your Grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Held Hostage

Love is . . . never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 TLB

One of the best things you can do for your family and friends is to show them mercy. Mercy is love in action. So when you overlook irritations and choose to be kind to those closest to you—even when they don’t deserve it—you’re being merciful. 

Another important way you can show mercy is to let go of past hurts. Do you keep a mental record every time someone in your family does something wrong? Are you quick to remind a friend of how they’ve hurt you? The Bible says that real love doesn’t store up hurts and offenses to be used later for revenge. When you hold on to a hurt like that, you are not being loving.

In today's text, notice how “rude” and “does not hold grudges” appear in the same passage. That’s why people are rude: they’re reacting to an old hurt and taking it out on others. And when they react to a past hurt, they can’t relate to the present.

Leviticus 19:18 says, “Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself” (GNT).

Are past grudges holding you hostage today? Don’t hold grudges over your loved ones' heads. And don’t tell other people about your grudges, either. That’s gossip! Instead, just let them go. Sometimes it’s hardest to show mercy to the people who are closest to you. But when you can let it go and be merciful, you become more like Jesus.

Talk It Over

What grudge have you been nursing? Why? How can you be intentional about letting it go?

There are many steps you can take to find healing from past pain—including seeking biblical counseling and mentoring, praying through Scripture, and obeying the Holy Spirit. What is one step you can take today, however big or small, toward healing?

Why do you think it’s sometimes more difficult to show mercy to your family than to anyone else?
 - written by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          You sent Your Son to pay for our sins so that we could live in freedom - freedom from the darkness and pain of sin. Freedom from holding onto past hurts and grudges. Your Word tells us that Your mercies are new every morning. Teach us to love and to be merciful like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The AAA Walk

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 

Genesis 6:9 (NLT)

There’s only one way to get the kind of courage it took for Noah to keep going after receiving such a big dream from God: He had to stay close to God. Hebrews 11:7 says, “Faith led Noah to listen when God warned him about the things that he could not see.”  Noah heard God speak. 

Walking with God is affiliation, agreement, and alignment with His Word and his will. Noah walked with God, and he wasn't afraid of disapproval or rejection or criticism or even a worldwide flood. 

Do you ever wonder why you don’t hear God speak? You hear God by getting near to God. You can't hear God when you're far away. You’ve got to get near to God. That means you spend time with God every day—reading and studying the Bible, talking to him in prayer, being quiet, and just listening to God.

The Bible says that Noah “walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9 NIV). Another translation of this verse says that Noah “walked in close fellowship with God” (NLT). When you walk with someone, that means you are near to them. Walking with someone implies several other things. 

First, it implies AFFILIATION. In other words, you're not ashamed to be with them. You're not worried about telling people you follow Jesus.

Second, the Bible tells us in Amos 3:3 that two people cannot walk together unless they AGREE. When you walk with God, you agree to go where he wants to go and do what he wants you to do. You are obedient to his will.

Third, walking with God means you are in ALIGNMENT. If you're walking with God, you'll be out of step with the world. You’ll do things differently than other people because God’s way is countercultural.

Noah knew that when you’re walking with God, you're near to God, and there is nothing to fear.

Talk It Over

What will you have to give up or take out of your schedule to have more time to get to know God?

In what ways is it obvious to others that you are out of step with the world because you follow Jesus?

What should you do when you start to feel fear creep into your mind?

 - written by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          I'm reminded of the old hymn, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." However, in deeper understanding of Your Word, we realize that the closer walk depends on our footsteps, not Yours; our choice to follow IN Your footsteps and walk with You. Not ask You to walk with us. Only You can lead us where we need to be. It's Your plan for our lives that we are to fulfill and You are the WayMaker. Help us to keep our eyes on You at all times. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen