Practice Religion Religiously

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

I check Twitter religiously. At least once a day – and honestly, it’s probably close to half a dozen – I get online or open the app to see what people are talking about. There are very few days that go by without me checking my feed for updates. It’s admittedly ridiculous.

I’ve realized lately that while I practice social media religiously, I don’t practice religion religiously. I read my Bible sometimes, I pray when I remember to, I worship if I happen to hear the right kind of song on the radio – but I don’t find myself in the habit of doing it every day, I do it when things are not going well or when I’m upset. Here in Philippians Paul encourages us to pray about everything. The big things, the little things, the scary things, the wonderful things – God wants all the things. He wants us to talk to him about what we want, and thank him for what He’s done, and in return, he will grant us peace.

In these short verses, Paul gives us the secret to a life of peace: prayer and time spent with God. And not just any peace; but “God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” I have had those moments in my life where I stand still and cry out to God; and afterwards I feel like my heart has been cleansed and that everything is going to work out. That’s God’s peace – and all we have to do to get it is hang out with God.

Let’s be more intentional about prayer. Even if it is just taking a minute to say grace before dinner, set aside a specific time to talk with God.

Million Candle Watts

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. – Philippians 2:14-15

It is an undeniable fact that the world is a messy place to live. There is no way to escape he pain, trouble, and strife that come along with living in a fallen world. So when Paul suggests that we “do everything without complaining and arguing” and live “clean, innocent lives” it sounds like an impossible feat.

It is important to note here that Paul didn’t ask the Philippians to be perfect. One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that we as Christians have to be perfect in order to share our faith with others. We let ourselves believe that non-believers will not accept Christ if we don’t have our own lives perfectly together – which is absolutely inaccurate, as looking like our lives are perfect usually turns away non-believers, who are hoping that God still loves them despite their shortcomings.

My brother works for the local fire department, and once demonstrated his million-candle-watt flashlight at a family bonfire. Fire fighters use these high-powered flashlights to be able to see through smoke and darkness when fighting fires. Whereas a normal flashlight can shed light on an area a couple of feet away, a million-candle-watt light can illuminate up to a distance of 30 feet. Even if the glass in the flashlight were to be covered in a layer of grime from the smoke, it would still shine brighter than any household flashlight.  

When Paul calls us to be “bright lights in [the] world,” he wants us to have intentions that are pure and childlike, but we don’t have to be perfect for that light to shine. Just like the flashlights, we can be a beacon to those around us.

We feel like our lives aren’t clean enough to shine – but God’s power can shine right through all of our dirt and grime.

Fill Your Niche

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. - Philippians 2:12-13

Recently a couple who serve as missionaries visited our church. While I love hearing about the work they’re doing and seeing the people they help, I usually end up feeling a little guilty about working a desk job when they’re caring for the homeless. The charity work I do through my office feels so weak in comparison.

But in reality, not everyone is called to be a missionary. When I really sit back and think about it, I have no desire to make a trip to Africa - not because I feel that the work isn’t necessary, but it just isn’t for me. And that’s okay. Paul points out in this passage that God gives us the desires to do the things that please Him. God created each of us to fill a specific niche, and He plants desires in our heart that encourage us to do whatever it takes to fill that niche. For some, that means raising money and going to Haiti to to rebuild villages. For others, that means being excellent at their desk job in order to witness to their coworkers.

God gives us each a desire, and the power to fulfill it. It is up to us to do so in a way that pleases Him.

Say a Little Prayer

 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. - Philippians 1:3 (NLT)

We’ve all heard the phrase pray without ceasing. It’s one of those things, like remembering to floss every day, that is easier said than done. God wants to be in constant contact with us - and while we’d love that, too, it’s often hard to keep God in mind while taking out the trash or cramming for finals or putting the kids to bed. Our minds get caught up in the tasks before us and suddenly it’s 10 o’clock at night and we realize we haven’t prayed all day.

When Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, he was serving time in a prison in Rome. Undoubtedly he had a lot on his mind - How are the guards going to treat me today? Am I going to make it out of here alive? But Paul knew how to pray without ceasing: Every time he thought about his friends in Philippi, he praised God for them. He didn’t wait for his designated hour of prayer time, he thanked God for them the very moment they came into his mind.

The rest of this week, as people pop in and out of your thoughts, say a prayer for them. It could be that they need your prayers at that exact moment.