From the Kitchen Table
Victorious Living Day 42
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Philippians 1:18-26
Victorious living begins in the spirit & the mind. Listen for and listen to the voice of courage, it’s a fleeting quality in the church and the world. It takes courage to live life and it takes Godly courage to live the Christian life. People are crumbling around us because there is so little courage to challenge the circumstances, conflicts and criticisms of the world. It takes courage to stand at the side of the sea and tell it to give way. It takes courage to face our giants. It takes courage to step out onto the water and it takes courage to speak hope into darkness, deception and discouragement. Courage is a condition of the mind and the spirit. It arises from a spirit that owns the truth and a mind that operates in the truth. Paul writes, “I will rejoice…” He’s in prison. He says, “through your prayers & the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.” And then he goes on to speak of his “expectation”, “courage”, and “hope”. Courage comes from the Christian whose mind is set on and strengthened by God’s word and God’s Spirit. To have the courage to follow Christ, to obey God, to fulfill the mission, we must let our heart own and our minds obey the word of God. We don’t get that on our own, that happens as we spend time with Jesus and His believers praying and pondering His word, work and will. A Holy Spirit courage will release us from a fearful faith, foolish prayers and failing lives. This world, our families and even Jesus Himself, needs courageous, not casual, Christians.
From the Kitchen Table 