WHATEVER IS PRAISEWORTHY

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:3-6

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

PONDER WHAT IS LOVELY

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.

Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. Psalm 45:2-3

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

WHATEVER IS PURE

The Son is the radiance of God’s gloryi and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”Revelation 5:2-5

PONDER WHAT IS NOBLE

no·ble/ˈnōb(ə)l/ : Honorable & worthy of reverence.

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Who among the gods is like you, Lord?

Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36

*For more information on the power of the right brain in spiritual growth, check out “The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation” by Jim Wilder and Michael Hendrick.

DAILY READING
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46

QUESTION

How are you devaluing or taking for granted the gift of grace you have in Jesus?

DAILY READING
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing

worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all

things […] I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his

resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his

death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:8;10

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals

and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he

would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature,

90A Journey Through Philippians

that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds

in the sky and all the wild animals. Genesis 2:19-20


QUESTIONS
How are you participating with Jesus in the work and purpose God has

for you?

Are you being convicted by the Holy Spirit that you are not doing all

that God has intended for you to do? What step is God inviting you to

take in response?

DAILY READING
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! Philippians 4:1

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? […] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:31-35; 37

QUESTION
What do you think of having a “garrison of peace”? How does this make you think differently about praying to God about the things that bring you anxiety?