PRAYER

Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity. ---- J. C. Ryle

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:7-8).

Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Come, my Soul, Thy Suit Prepare.(John Newton, 1779.)

FLESH

The work of God cannot be done in the energy of the flesh. Too much religious activity is just old Adam in his Sunday clothes. ---- Vance Havner

But we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: O Jesus, I Have Promised (John E. Bode, 1868).

WAY

Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness. -- Adrian Rogers

 

 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:9-11).

FORM

Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. (--- C. S. Lewis).

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life --- the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest in us ---that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you... (I John 1:1-3). 

The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order o Melchizedek." The Lord is at your right hand, he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth (Psalm 110:4-6)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Gentle Mary Laid Her Child (Joseph Cook, 1919).

MIND

The mind is the vestibule of the sanctuary of the heart. --- Rick Phillips

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: May the Mind of Christ My Savior (Kate B. Wilkinson, 1925).

WHOLLY

WHOLLY THE LORD'S

 

My whole though broken heart, O Lord

   From henceforth shall be Thine;

And here I do my vow record ---

   This hand, these words are mine;

All that I have, without reserve,

   I offer here to Thee;

Thy will and honor all shall serve

   That Thou bestow'st on me.

 

All that I save I lose;

   All that I lose I save;

The treasures of Thy love I choose,

   And Thou art all I crave.

My God, Thou hast my heart and hand;

   I all to Thee resign;

I'll ever to this covenant stand,

   Though flesh hereat repine.

 

I know that Thou wast willing first,

   And then drew my consent;

Having thus loved me at the worst

   Thou wilt not now repent.

Now I have quit all self-pretense,

   Take care of what's Thine own;

My life, my health, and my defense,

   Now lie on Thee alone. ---- Richard Baxter.

 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

 

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). 

 

A Hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Christ of All My Hopes the Ground, Ralph Wardlaw, 1817.

SELF-DENIAL

 

If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord's table, any person better than Christ, any indulgence better than the hope of heaven -- take alarm! ---- Thomas Guthrie.

 

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he was looking to the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26)

 

But whatever gain I had, I counted a loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.... (Philippians 3:7-16).

FOCUS

You may not be the best judge of the distance you have travelled, but you ought to have a good idea of the direction in which you are travelling. ---- Anonymous

 

Not that I...am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12, 13-14).  

Sufficiency

 

The sufficiency of Christ. They lose nothing who gain Christ. J. C. Ryle

 

I eagerly expect...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 (Philippians 1:20-21).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground, Ralph Wardlaw, 1817.

Mind

Oh, how greatly has the man advanced who has learned not to be his own, not to be governed by his own reason, but to surrender his mind to God! ---- John Calvin

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...." (Philippians 2:5)

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ... (II Corinthians 10:5).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: May the Mind of Christ My Savior: "May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say." 

Christ Above All

He values not Christ at all who does not value Christ above all. Augustine.

 

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).  

True Religion

The religion of some people is constrained, like the cold bath when used, not for pleasure, but from necessity for health, into which one goes with reluctance, and is glad when able to get out. But religion to the true believer is like water to a fish; it is his element; he lives in it and could not live out of it. ---- John Newton

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 2:21).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: CHRIST, OF ALL MY HOPES THE GROUND. 

Seeing Life as Christ Sees It

It is not the eye that sees the beauty of the heaven, nor the ear that hears the sweetness of music or the glad tidings of a prosperous occurrence, but the soul, that perceives all the relishes of sensual and intellectual perfections; and the more noble and excellent the soul is, the greater and more savory are its perceptions. ---- Jeremy Taylor

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25-28). 

("...for the fruit of life is found in all that is good and true) (Ephesians 5:9). 

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things...practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:5-9). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST MY SAVIOR.

Jesus

Open my heart, and you will see engraved therein, "Jesus."  ---- Selected.

As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:20-21).

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of the Son of God: JESUS, THOU JOY OF LOVING HEARTS. 

Worry

Good morning!

Worry. Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief in defeat. William A. Ward.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:6-9).

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.

 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
 when sorrows like sea billows roll; 
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 
 It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Refrain:
 It is well with my soul, 
 it is well, it is well with my soul. 

Grace

Good afternoon!

 

Grace is something more than 'unmerited favor' ... grace is favor shown where there is positive demerit in the one receiving it. Anonymous.

 

But whatever gain I had I counted as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that come from the law, but that which comes thourgh faith in Christ, the righeousness from God that depends on faith (Philippians 3:2-9).

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them(Ephesians 2:8-10).

Humility

Good morning!

Humility. The best of God's people have abhorred themselves. Like the spire of a steeple, we are least at the highest. ---- Thomas Manton

How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in His eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!" (Job 25:2-6).

Have this mind among yourselves, which is ours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human fashion, he humbled himself,  becoming obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:5-8). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD.

Trust and Contentment

Good morning!

Trust and Contentment. It was characteristic of Paul under difficult circumstances to fix his mind on the purposes of God in his life rather than on his immediate confinement. ---- Sinclair Ferguson.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ, and most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:12-14). 

A hymn to read, sing, or hum to the glory of God:  GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY.  

Stumbling Blocks

Good morning!

Stumbling blocks are often stepping stones to glory. --- pgs

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).

----

A hymn to read or sing aloud, and to offer to God in worship: ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME.

Joy

Good morning!

If you have no joy in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere ---- Billy Sunday.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in  the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts.