Nate's Daily Devotionals (old)

v2-4) Trials = tests that challenge faith Trials should be viewed of as joyful (despite any pain they might cause) This is because trials are designed to produce spiritual maturity and should therefore be counted as joy Joy is not just worldly joy, but the enduring. "complete joy" in the Lord who is sovereign These trials will produce steadfastness  --> so that we might be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing Steadfastness = faithful endurance amid troubles and afflictions v5-6) Believers are to have an undivided faith, asking for wisdom from our ever-wise all-generous God Wisdom = God-given, God-centred discernment regarding the practical issues in life Wisdom comes from prayer for God's help We are to ask in faith - which is a settled trust and confidence in God, based on his character and promises as revealed in Scripture v7-8) Doubting God's goodness is dishonouring to him A person who doubts Him, should not expect to receive anythin...

v4) Paul tells us to always be rejoicing in the Lord Do I find joy in Christ and the God I serve - or do I find following him just a chore? v6-7) In every situation, present my requests to God (through prayer) Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything Thanksgiving is an element of prayer God will not necessarily give us what we pray for exactly, but he does promise us peace A peace which transcends all understanding v8) Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable - we should keep our minds focused on these things We will only discover what fits these descriptions when we discover and delve into his Word v9) The God of peace will be with us when we put these things that we've learned or received or heard into practice It reinforces the idea that we don't need to just learn and become smarter Christians - no, but we need to actively live out what we learn and are convicted of Prayer: Through any struggle that I might come...

v12) Paul admits that he is not perfect even as he commits to a life of servitude - shows what true humility is  Paul reminds us that we are God's children and that he adopts us and therefore owns us v13-14) Paul describes his walk with Christ as him "straining forward" We are to expect this walk with Christ to be difficult However we forget what lies behind because Christ has already redeemed and saved us from it We continue to press on to the goal that is the upward call of Christ v16) We should hold true and fast to what we have attained That is, God's word and his salvation through Jesus v17-18) We should imitate Paul and his walk and faith in Christ we should also look towards those who walk faithfully (brothers and sisters) v19) For enemies of Christ, the end is destruction - no matter how much joy they have while on this earth Their god is their own fleshly desires and they set their mind on earthly things v20-21) But our citizenship is in heaven We are in this...

v2-3) Look out for the evildoers who mean us harm We worship the Spirit of God and all glory and confidence goes to him  and not to the flesh v7-8) Paul counts all gain as loss for the sake of Christ All the worldly things (fleshly things) that he has gained he counts as nothing when compared to Christ In fact, he regards knowing Christ as the most important thing in this world - more than anything this world could offer All the things that Paul endures is for Christ More importantly, all the things he has given up in this life because of Christ he counts as nothing compared to knowing and gaining salvation through Christ v9) We don't have righteousness through ourselves and through what we do in the law No, instead we have righteous that comes through faith in Christ Righteousness depends on faith not on works v10-11) Paul welcomes suffering - knowing the power that Christ holds over death through the resurrection That by any means necessary he w...