Day 31

After the last 31 days, I have a healthy new sense of my “unimportance.”

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Scripture

Therefore, if there is encouragement in Christ, comfort and assurance of God’s love in Christ, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, keeping the same love, united in Spirit, intent on one purpose, do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves. Have this attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus……did not regard equality with God something to be grasped…..but emptied Himself…” — Philippians 2:1-3, 5-7

Observation

Paul’s letter to the Philippians while imprisoned around 60 AD is one of the most powerful in Scripture, and frankly the Scripture I wrestle with the most in my Christian behavior. The terms “same mind….same love….united in Spirit….without selfishness or conceit….your own personal interests….have this attitude….emptied….”, rarely would be used to describe me. I just consider how I tend to wake up everyday with myself at the center of my planning.

Application

We are at the last day of our Journey Church Consistency Project 2021. I don’t know how you feel about what you have read and thought about over the 31 days, but I have a healthy new sense of my “unimportance.” I know I am valued as a child of God, loved by my family and a few friends, but my commitment to Christ today is to heed Paul’s inspired advice, and with the Holy Spirit’s power, pray the following prayer below:

Prayer

“Father, I admit and confess my sinful attitudes of entitlement, position, accomplishments, influence, ‘me 1st’, giving record, education, and all the other fragile and disintegrating trophies of my life. Please keep your inspired words to the believers in Philippi in the forefront of my daily thinking and prayer life. Amen.”

Scripture

Get to a place where you can focus and read the daily Scripture passage several times. Take time to read and allow God to speak to you. Write down the one or two verses that stick out. Even consider rewriting the verse(s) in your own words.

Observation

Make a basic observation about the scripture you just read. What stood out? Was something repeated? What is the author trying to communicate? What does the Scripture passage teach you about God? What does it teach you about humanity?

Application

Ask, “What does this verse(s) mean for my life?” How might this verse affect your heart — how you feel? How does this verse challenge your thinking? How does it affect your will, asking, “What changes do I need to make in my life as a result of this passage of Scripture?”

Prayer

Write out a prayer to God. Scripture is God speaking to you, take this moment to speak back. Take a moment to say, “Thank you,” confess to Him what needs to change, or ask for something that is on your heart.