Philippians Devotional- Chapter 1

May 27, 2013

—

Are you reading the book of Philippians with me? If you aren’t, feel free to jump right in where we are and read with us from this point on. We are reading a chapter per week and this week we started with chapter 1. (You can read more about the process here.)

As I read the same chapter each day, I tried to listen to what specific verse God wanted me to hear this week and, using the SOAP devotional method, this is what stood out for me:

SCRIPTURE:

Philippians 1:25-26

25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

OBSERVATION:

Paul is sharing his desire to die in body and be with Christ and yet he sees true value he sees in remaining living in the body so he can share about Christ and encourage others, even through his physical suffering. He gets great pleasure in encouraging others.

APPLICATION:

I have missed sharing my devotionals here on MomsToolbox. Every single Bible in 90 Days session was an exciting project, as were all the other daily devotionals and reading plans we have read together here. They fed me spiritually, and it was great to encourage others to be fed, as well, and yet they also took a lot out of me in taking the time to post and respond to emails. I had to take a break.

I love how God is beckoning me back and helping me see to how to fit this back into mylife so that I can continue to share my thoughts and experiences and encourage others to do the same. I want your joy in Christ to overflow on account of me. I want you to grow and feel his love and be so overwhelmed by it that you just have to share. And I am honored to help with that.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for calling out to me once again and guiding me as I share my devotionals with my MomsToolbox family. I love sharing and hearing how other are growing in their own faith while reading and SOAPing with me, but, as you know, things were getting overwhelming for me for a bit. Thanks for staying with me as I took a step back.

Please, Lord, continue to show me the path I should follow in reading, listening and sharing. Please let my actions and prayers inspire those around me (virtually and in real life) such that their joy for you will overflow on account of me.

I love you, Lord. Thank you for your guidance and love, and for putting me right where I am, even when I am puzzled about it.

So.. what about you? What did you hear God sharing with you in Philippians chapter 1? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or even share a link to blog post where you shared your thoughts on this reading. Especially after my SOAP this week, I’d LOVE to know how you’ve been impacted.

What’s next?

This week we’ll read Philippians chapter 2 and compare notes next Monday, June 3.

Philipians

Comments

4 responses to “Philippians Devotional- Chapter 1”

Janeryan

June 7, 2013

Sorry a bit behind with updating!

S-verses 6 21 & 27 stood out for me

6 I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[a] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

O-Paul gives thanks for the believers in verses 1-9. he tells them that being in prison which is bad for him has had good results-the prison officers and other prisoners know why he’s there and other people have been emboldened to preach the gospel because of him-not always for the right motives but Paul is happy as long as the gospel is getting out there.He can be glad and ignore his circumstances because he sees it as a win/win. Whilst alive he can serve Christ (v22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!) but he is torn between this world and eternity with God.

he knows what his purpose is (v25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,).

A-This passage shows me that I need to thankful in all circumstances good or bad and to know my purpose-to tell others about Christ, to encourage and build up other believers and to encourage unity.

P-Lord thank you for the example set by Paul in this passage and in his life- I pray that you will give me opportunities to follow his example-to work for you wherever you place me and to develop an attitude of thankfulness and and encouraging spirit.

Amen

Reply
Deb H

May 28, 2013

Amy

Thank you for your soap, and for the insights of the other ladies.

I am new to the process, but next week I will get it right.
(Please note my Soap Draft, for Chapter 1 was inadvertenly posted 7 days ago)

Deb H

Reply
Stacie

May 27, 2013

Here are my thoughts, I focused on Philippians 1:10: http://www.sincerelystacie.com/2013/05/my-thoughts-on-phillipians-chapter-1.html

Thanks so much for offering this. It was just what I needed.

Reply
Ann-Marie

May 27, 2013

http://ulczynskiupdate.blogspot.com/2013/05/philippians-devotional-chapter-1.html

A great chapter. Thanks for the opportunity to go deeper and reflect.

Reply