Stand
What would it look like for you to stand strong in your life right now? At different times in life, internal and external pressures can force us to lose our footing and direction. As we near the conclusion of the letter to the Philippians, we find encouragement to stand firm. Together, let’s discover some key actions that will help us maintain stability no matter what life throws at us.
Read through Philippians 4:1-9 and consider the external conflicts or inner struggles that threaten to disrupt your life. Identify those external or internal pressures and give them to the Lord by speaking them out loud in prayer.
Underline, highlight, or take note of each time the phrase “in the Lord” or “in Christ Jesus appears in verses 1-9. What might this phrase include and what is it’s significance for you?
How do you normally respond to conflict? (Remember the conflict addressed in verses 2-3). How could you grow in your response to conflict?
Choosing joy is easier said than done. What belief(s) would you need to hold onto in order to choose to rejoice consistently?
How would your thinking about the future change if shifted from asking, “What if?” to “Who?” How is God calling you to experience the peace he gives?
Take an inventory of your thoughts over the last 24-48 hours. What categories of thought regularly dominate your mind? Now compare your list to the encouragement in verse 8. How could you move your thinking to align more closely with the categories in this verse?
What is one area of your life you want to work on next week in order to “stand strong” in the Lord?
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