Day FOUR
BEGIN
Pray to experience joy in Christ through our theme verse:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Review the memory verse for the week:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
READ
Read and meditate on this passage today: Philippians 2:1-18
Look for what you learn about God and listen for what the Spirit is saying to you through the Word of God. How can the Philippians make Paul’s joy complete? Why is Paul glad and rejoicing, and why should they rejoice with him?
Philippians 2:1–18
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
How could adopting the mindset of Christ bring unity to the body and how might that result in greater joy? How does grumbling or arguing rob us of joy?
PRAY
As the Spirit leads, let these themes guide you in your prayer today:
- Confess any selfish ambition, vain conceit or pride God is bringing to your mind.
- Praise Jesus Christ for humbling himself for us on the cross.
- Pray that you will develop the same mindset as Christ.
- Confess any grumbling or arguing.
- Pray your life will shine for Christ.
JOURNAL
What are you learning about God as you seek to experience joy in Christ?
What do you sense God is saying to you through this passage?
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SHARE
Talk with your prayer partner about what you are learning, how you are growing to experience more joy in Christ. Pray together.