Philippians 4:9-13
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Daily Devotion
By: Jesse Sanders
Philippians 4:9-13 (NLT) 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
The Apostle Paul communicates two very interesting points in this small portion of scripture.
Point 1: The God of Peace is with us when we are submitted to Him, living as He has taught and instructed us in His Word.
Philippians 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Paul is directing the saints in the Church of the city of Phillipi on how to encounter and walk with the God of peace. Paul’s instructions are clear. His writings state that if the Church will follow his example, living their lives as he set the standard to be, then the God of peace would be with them. This is a scripture we should be applying to ourselves and our personal walk with God.
In my own life experience, the times I found myself to be most out of balance, are the instances that I can look back and see that I wasn’t fully following God’s word and direction. Conversely, the times I remember the most contentment in my Spirit, are the times I’m following the example of the spiritual leaders in authority over me. Because when I walk in God’s ways and will, then the God of peace walks with me.
Philippians 4:12-13 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Point 2: The secret to being thankful and content in any and every situation, is to understand anything is possible with Christ because He will give you the strength to handle every season of life.
I love this point most. True strength to overcome and outlast any storm comes only from Jesus. When we try and do it ourselves then we tend to struggle. But if we can understand and realize that trusting Jesus will be the strength that carries us through, then we can overcome just as Paul did throughout his entire ministry. Jesus can and will be the strength and peace that holds and carries us through the trials. He is strength, peace and joy in all of life’s different highs and lows.