"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
"It's going to be okay" - The calming words of a parent on the first day of school, 5min before the race, or right after sharing heartbreaking news. It gives you hope for tomorrow, knowing that someone is there to support you all the way even though they're not sure what the outcome might be.
And then there is the Father. Someone who not only wants to say: "It's going to be okay" because He wants to cheer you up, but because He is sitting in your future, knowing exactly what the outcome is going to be.
Let it just sink in for a moment...
The God of the past, present, and future is so faithful to His word and holds your future in His hands. If He said He knows what He has planned for you, plans to prosper, to give you hope and a future - then so it will be (Jeremiah 29:11).
But we also have a part to play. Are we going to speak life over the situation that we are in or are we going to use our words in such a negative way that we almost go against what He has promised for us? As Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Lately, I'm reminded of Paul's letters to the saints in Phillipi, filled with words of encouragement, hope, and joy, but zoom out for a moment and you'll notice that he was writing all these letters while still in jail. How's that for optimism?
He not only believed that God would save him from the situation that he was in, but he was so determined to use the opportunity of being in jail to minister to people and to spread the word.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Philippians 1:12-14 (NIV)
Where was his focus? Not on the rats crawling on the ground or the bad smells and lack of ventilation. His focus was on Jesus. He understood Who his provider was and he placed the Kingdom of God far above his comfort and desires of the flesh. It was as if humility opened his eyes to look past the "Why's?", and rather focus on the opportunity that he has to bring glory to God's name. He had an eternal focus. Come life or death - it was all about Jesus and living in obedience to Him.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of 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.
Phillipians 1:18-21 (NIV)
Brandon Lake released a song early this year called "Fear is not my future."
This is such a powerful song and I encourage you to listen to the lyrics of this song. In the chorus, he sings:
Hello peace, hello joy, hello love
Hello strength, hello hope
It's a new horizon
As if inviting peace, joy, love, strength, and hope into the room.
He also says goodbye to fear, guilt, and shame. It's almost this declaration where he speaks life over his future when he sings these words in the bridge:
Fear is not my future, You are
Sickness is not my story, You are,
Heartbreak's not my home, You are
Death is not the end, You are
May this be our declaration and may we invite peace, joy, love, strength, and hope into our day; knowing that the one who has made the mountains and the sea is our future, in our future, and loves us with an everlasting love!
Let's use our words wisely and whenever we are in a situation that doesn't go as planned, may we humble ourselves and ask God to show us how we can use this situation as an opportunity to bring glory to His name.
All to Him, always and in everything
Brandon Lake - Fear is not my future
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