‘I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. ‘ Philippians 3:12-14
I used to read this verse, and it meant a lot to me. But with a recent revelation about this verse, it means even more to me. Let’s explore it together!
For the Christian, we know or should know that we will not achieve perfection until Jesus returns to earth. But we are called to “work out our salvation,” which involves cutting loose all the things hindering our spiritual growth. This requires a continuous evaluation of our thinking, especially deeply held convictions that may hold us back.
‘We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ‘ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
I have held the belief that the greatest enemy that we will face is ourselves. And the battleground for us is not out in the world, but it is the six inches between our ears. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that “the enemy is not flesh and blood.” When I think about that statement, it gives me pause when I look out into the world and start to think about those who do not hold the same beliefs.
It could be spiritual or political beliefs; it does not matter; the people who oppose my views are not my enemy.
“OK, John! If it is not the people who disagree with my viewpoint, then who is my enemy?”
‘For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ‘ Ephesians 6:12
The question is, how do we fight an enemy that we can not see?
It all starts with our thinking. This includes conscious thoughts as well as unconscious thoughts. I’ll go out on a limb and say that our unconscious thoughts can hold us back more than our conscious thoughts. These are the thoughts that run in the background of our minds.
These thoughts may have served us in the past. But if left unchecked they could be anchors that hold us back from forward progress in our lives.
I was fortunate to have caught one of these unconscious thoughts. I was driving home from work one afternoon, and this thought popped into my mind about my fiancé at the time, Tracy. This was a very familiar thought, but I caught it this time.
This thought was familiar because it was a thought that I used to think about my ex-wife. The difference this time was that instead of my ex-wife’s name in the thought, it was Tracy’s!!
I hit the brakes on my car and skidded to the side of the road. This was a massive moment in my life. If I had not “captured” this thought, my relationship with Tracy would have ended the same way my relationship ended with my ex-wife. And it would have been my thinking that would have created the situation to devolve if I hadn’t caught it.
But now that this thought was out in the open, I had a chance to deal with it. To change it!
I did change this thought, and I’d like to report that Tracy and I have a great relationship.
To replace these limiting thoughts, we must actively think about… what we are thinking about. Unquestioningly, allowing thoughts to run through our minds can hold us captive to our past.
God gives us opportunities to examine our thinking in many ways, but here are a few that stick out to me.
- When we want people in our lives to change what they are doing, this one instantly puts our will over another, even if it is for the better of the other person.
- When we want our circumstances to change because we are uncomfortable in it.
Now, please don’t take what I say about what others do if there is an abusive situation. This is extreme and should be handled appropriately. This is under typical life situations.
When we find ourselves in conflict with other people, we conflict with God.
I can hear you saying, “Come on, John! The other person is wrong!”
Well, that may be. But in most instances, the relationship is more important than you being right. I like to use this saying when I find myself in this situation, “I may be wrong, but I often am.” This diffuses the situation and allows the other person to maintain their position without me forcing change.
I heard this saying many years ago: “A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.”
When you allow space for God to work in the other person’s life if God will it, they will come to the correct conclusion, and it will never go back to the old way.
‘Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. ‘ Philippians 3:15
God allows us to go through very uncomfortable circumstances for us to shape our faith. If we fight against this, we could miss out on an opportunity God has inshore for us.
‘Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ‘ James 1:2-4
James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “consider it an opportunity for great joy.” It is considered an “opportunity” because we can work through or resist it. And God leaves that willingness to us.
‘If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. ‘ James 1:5-8
Through the grace shown to us by the sacrifice of Jesus, we can go directly to the source of the power of the universe. We can seek wisdom now from God. But He wants us to look only to Him as the source of wisdom. He wants our undivided loyalty.
As we walk through this life as Christians, every day, our attachment to the things of this world should be decreasing.
Heavenly Father, please allow me the strength and the courage to examine every thought I hold. Please let me find the thoughts that no longer serve you and give me the courage to separate from these thoughts.
I ask You to let me see the people in my life as You see them, with compassion, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Please let me lay down my prejudices and limiting thoughts about those around me. Let me see them with the potential that You put into them. Let me see their strengths and abilities.
Let my thoughts and words edify those in my life and give me the strength to serve those around me with unfailing love.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
