Tag: philippians 4

Choose your thoughts

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. –Philippians 4:8-9

Your surroundings affect you.

If you surround yourself with negativity, anger, hate and immorality, it will be hard to be happy and positive.

But if you surround yourself with good, positive, pure encouraging things being optimistic will be almost natural.

God is love and if we want to follow him and live a life for him then we must put ourselves in an environment where we can focus on him.

We all have a choice in what we listen to, read, watch and who we spend our time with. Especially in our current society of constant media we are continuously being influenced.

Direct your thoughts by making choices that foster what you want. Swap out what distracts you for what encourages you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, learn who he is and ask him to teach you in new ways.


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Are you helping or hindering?

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.  Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. ~Philippians 4:2-3

Why do we have disagreements within the church body? I’m not talking about the big theological debates. More about the simple things like how the Christmas decorations get set up.

Why do we let these things bother us? Was it really our decision in the first place or are we giving our opinion. If it is our opinion, is that what we should be focused on? Isn’t our role in the church to be the body of Christ, to help others, not hinder. Have we asked Jesus His opinion on the matter? Or are we just blazing forward without regard for God’s opinion.

You may think He doesn’t care about the little things. Or that your perfectly capable of making that decision without Him. But should we be doing things without Him? Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.

Jesus can make the simplest thing simpler or the most boring thing enjoyable. Make every moment a moment to deepen your relationship with Him. If doing something simple and boring is more fun with a friend; and He is the funnest friend ever. Then shouldn’t we want to do everything with Him.

If your have a differing opinion then someone else in the body of Christ. Then you should both seek God and ask him how you can serve others. Changing our perspective from ourselves to others. Changes our hearts to the gospel. As Paul is speaking of in this verse. Jesus didn’t come to earth to make things about him. He came to connect us to Father God. He came to serve others not himself or his opinion but to do and say what his Heavenly Father said and did. If even Jesus didn’t consider his opinion to be above others how can we.

Blessing and Giving

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:14-20

When we take care of others, God takes care of us.

So many times in my life when I have given to others God has provided for me and almost always above and beyond what I needed.

Giving to others is not supposed to be done out of compulsion but out of love.

Parents give to their kids because they love them. In the same way God gives to us.

He provides for others through us and many times blesses us through others.


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Calm in chaos

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:10-13

To know how to be content in any and all circumstances is what Jesus gives us.

He gives us peace that surpasses understanding and joy that abound beyond reason. He gives us strength when we are weak.

He teaches us how to be who he made us to be no matter what.

So that our circumstances don’t change us, we change our circumstances.


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Trust God

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:5-7

Trusting God can seem hard if you have no faith in him, but if you know him and his character. Then you know he more then earns our trust.

When we ask God for things, it’s easy to become discouraged if we don’t get the answer we wanted or in the time we think we should get it. But when he asks us to wait for something or doesn’t answer us the way we wanted he gives us peace beyond our understanding.

Our uneasiness, fear or anxiety about his answer comes from us not trusting him. Not his answer. He knows what’s best for us and when.

Many times when he says “no” or “not yet” it is because he has something better for us, beyond what we could image or what we want in the time we want it, would harm us more then help us.


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I’ve used this example many times, but my husband and I both went through a time period where we were lonely and looking for our future spouse and both of us chose people who were not good for us and took advantage of us. They were not the right people for us but we tried to get what we wanted, when we wanted it instead of waiting for God to bring us into each others lives.

Because of our selfish decisions we both had to learn how to be in a healthy relationship and heal from the wounds of those past relationships. In the same respect it took time for those wounds to heal and we were both glad that we had not met sooner as God was working on both of us to be ready to have a healthy relationship, so that we would not bring past hurts into our relationship.

Trust God’s timing and his answer. Know that he has good plans for you.

More than Hello

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.–Philippians 4:21-23

Have you ever thought about how we greet other believers.

We are really good at saying a quick ‘hi’ or ‘welcome’ on Sunday morning. But do we ever ask how people are? Or do we just plaster on the fake smile hiding what’s going on in our life or let others pass by with the same fake smile hiding their own struggles.

We are the body of Jesus. We are meant to help each other.


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Asking each other how we are doing and actually paying attention to the answer can help so many people and even ourselves.

We can encourage those we see are having a rough day or might even get some encouragement from others ourselves.

Jesus’s grace is in all of us. Let’s share it with each other.