Finding rest, giving control, having confidence, and choosing joy

Hello friends! Welcome back! Recently I just finished a study over Philippians and I wanted to share a little of it with you! We’re going to talk all about finding rest in the Lord and what it really means to having citizenship in heaven. This study was incredibly encouraging in every way, and if you follow my Instagram ( @shelbyforbus_ ) you’ve seen some posts about some of the devotions! In Philippians 1 we’re going to look at finding rest. Friend, rest in God’s sovereignty. The amazing work He started in you, He will finish. Life is crazy and is nothing, absolutely nothing, like we ever expect and can change within an instant, BUT one truth to hold on to is that the Lord never changes. trust Him in the process. He is working, even when you don’t see Him or feel Him. He will complete what He began in you. He will equip you for the task and see you through. Your job is to abide in Him and leave the results in His hands. The same hands that crafted the evening sunsets and budding flowers are also at work in your life. (I really am obsessed with flowers so I have to use them as examples in every way 🤪) Philippians 1:3-6 (READ IT!!) In Philippians 2 we learned all about giving God full control. When we realize God is ultimately in control and our lives are in His trustworthy hands, we can stop pushing our agenda. Instead of having a selfish, self-centered to-do list, we release our wants, dreams, and desires for something far greater… HIS! Life isn’t about accomplishments but rather relationships: our relationship with Christ and our relationship with others. How we live our lives really comes down to a question we have to answer daily: will we live for Christ or will we live for ourselves? When we live for ourselves - our wants, our desires, and our dreams – we become our own focus, not Jesus. But what if we chose differently? What if when we wake up each morning, we choose Jesus? Before our feet hit the floor every day we need to give thanks to him and give our day to him before it even starts. Instead of having an inward focus, let’s reach out in humility to others, recognizing ways we can be Jesus’ hands and feet right where He has placed us. Humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less often - His will over our own. Philippians 2:3-4 In Philippians 3 we revealed what it looks like to have confidence in Gods salvation and what it truly means to have citizenship in heaven. Confidence in our salvation doesn’t come from our “good works” but rather from God’s grace. Salvation is a free gift that we cannot earn; it’s not based on how good we are but rather how good God is. Don’t allow people in your life to add “works” onto your salvation. As Christians, we work unto the Lord out of gratitude and love for God, not to earn His love or our salvation. Our good works are the result of our faith in Christ, not a requirement for salvation. BOOM. Philippians 3:12-16 Finally, in Philippians 4 we learn how to choose joy in even the most devastating circumstances. What a reminder of the importance of choosing to rejoice! No matter what is going on in our lives, we always have a reason to rejoice because of our relationship with Christ. He is near: near to the brokenhearted; near to the lonely woman; near to those who feel rejected. Because of this truth we rejoice, knowing that God is in control and we can find rest in Him. Truly it all comes back to that, finding rest in him. Our world and the craziness of the times in which we live can cause anyone to have anxiety, but that’s where our faith, trust, and prayers come into play. Instead of allowing the worries of this world to drain us of our energy, we hand them over to God. We give Him our concerns and our worries through our prayers, and we trust Him to work in ways that only He can. We are not God, but He is, and He can do more than we could ever imagine. Philippians 4:6-7 I really hope y’all consider reading the book of Philippians and get even more out of it than just what these fee points are. This book really makes you stop and realize who you really are in Christ and what your life really means to him! I just have to leave y’all with some quick questions down below to answer to yourself for self realization, or feel free to message me your answers and we can chat! 1. What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord? 2. What is the danger of having "confidence in the flesh'? 3. What goal are we to press forward towards? “For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!” Philippians‬ ‭3:3-4‬ Stay blessed, YOU are his beloved ✌🏼