By JMathis

Philippians 1:19-21 (NIV): Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I just love this set of verses. It swells up my heart with so much hope, and I send this to everyone I know who is struggling with difficulties such as a loss of a job, a loss of a loved one, a loss of innocence. In just a few lines, it provides you a detailed plan of attack, along with the expected results, for when life strikes you down and you experience those “April Showers”.

Why does Paul, the author, rejoice? Because he’s onto something…he knows two things: 1) people are praying for him, AND 2) that the Holy Spirit is helping him. Because of these two things, he knows without a shadow of a doubt that the very crisis/problem/disaster that was meant for his DESTRUCTION will now turn into his DELIVERANCE.

He also endeavors to do one more thing in exercising his faith–he EXPECTS that this hostile situation he is facing won’t cause him to be ashamed or embarrassed.

As Bindu mentioned yesterday, you can’t expect people to pray for you unless you are honest and truthful with them about your struggles. You have to trust the Lord that He will give you victory over any potential shame or embrarrasment that comes from revealing these struggles to others.

Allowing friends, family and your church leaders to pray and agree with you BUILDS up your faith and gives you courage so that you know, that you know, that you really, really know, that the Holy Spirit is on your side to help you through this turmoil. Without this knowledge, you can never expect that things will change for you. WITH this deep-seated knowledge, however, not only can you expect the situation to change, but it will change for your good, with NO need to ever be ashamed.

LOVE this set of verses with me today. LIVE this set of verses with me today. EXPECT big things for your life today.