God's Good Purposed

Date: March 22, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Philippians 2:13

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your loving kindness and mercy towards me. I know that it is only by your grace that I am able to do anything good. Please help me to be open to your will and your purpose for my life. Give me the desire to obey you and the strength to carry out your plan for my life. I know that I can’t do this on my own, but I trust in your power and guidance to lead me in the right direction. May my life be a reflection of your love and grace towards others. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians to the church in Philippi, which was located in Macedonia (present day Greece). It was most likely written when he was in prison in Rome, around 60-62 AD. Paul wrote this letter to express his gratitude for the support that the Philippians had given him in his ministry and to encourage them to continue to live out their faith in Christ.

In Philippians 2, Paul encourages the church to follow the example of Christ's humility and to have a servant's attitude towards one another. He emphasizes that Christ willingly humbled himself and became obedient to God's will, even to the point of death on a cross. In verse 13, Paul reminds the Philippians that it is God who empowers them to do good works and fulfill His purposes.

Study and Savor – Key Words

God who works: Refers to the one true God who created the universe and everything in it, and the actions or deeds that individuals do in obedience to God's will.

Will: Refers to the desire or inclination to do something, in this case, to do God's will.

Act: Refers to the actual carrying out of God's will in one's life.

Good purpose: Refers to God's overarching plan for humanity and the universe, which is ultimately good and brings Him glory.

Summarize and Share

Have you ever struggled with figuring out what God's will is for your life? Perhaps you feel like you're not sure what steps to take next, or you're not sure how to discern God's voice in the middle of all the noise and distractions of your life. In Philippians 2:13, the apostle Paul reminds us that it is God who works in us to fulfill His good purpose. This means that if we seek to follow God's will, He will guide us and empower us to carry it out.

So how can we know if it is God working in us to fulfill His good purpose? 

When we feel a strong sense of conviction about something: Sometimes God may place a burden on our hearts to follow a certain path or make a particular decision. This conviction can come through prayer, reading the Bible, or through other people who speak into our lives.

When we experience a sense of extreme peace: When we are following God's will, we may experience a sense of peace and assurance that transcends our circumstances. This peace comes from trusting in that God is in control and knowing that He is working all things together for our good.

If we want to seek God's will for our lives, we need to remember that it is God who empowers us to do good works and fulfill His purpose. Let’s seek to develop a heart of obedience and trust in Him, and be open to His leading in our lives.

Take some time to reflect on whether you are actively seeking God's will for your life. Are you spending time in prayer and reading the Bible? Are you seeking the guidance of wise and godly mentors? If you feel uncertain about what God's will is for your life, ask Him to give you clarity and direction. Trust that He will and then follow through.  Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, right here, right now, I’m asking you to help me and all who are listening here today, to seek you with all of our hearts and minds, and to give us clarity and direction as to what path you would have us follow. Help us then to trust that perfect plan and to glorify your name in all that we do. In Jesus Name, Amen 

Bible Cross Reference

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This verse emphasizes that God has prepared good works for us to do, just as Philippians 2:13 emphasizes that God is at work in us to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Hebrews 13:21 - "May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen." This verse emphasizes that God is the one who equips us with everything we need to do his will, just as Philippians 2:13 emphasizes that God is at work in us to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Colossians 1:29 - "To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." This verse emphasizes that it is Christ's power that enables us to do the work God has called us to do, just as Philippians 2:13 emphasizes that it is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 - "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." This verse emphasizes that the word of God is at work in believers, just as Philippians 2:13 emphasizes that God is at work in us to will and to act according to his good purpose.