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If you’ve been following my posts starting with the week leading up to Thanksgiving, you know I’ve been on a spiritual journey with the book of Philippians. It felt particularly relevant for the time of Thanksgiving we were entering, but it also feels like these things hold weight in the season of Advent. Prayerfully the shape of my life, and the timing of these posts as a result, serve to allow the Spirit to provide these words when they’re needed more than when I plan.
I’m not sure if the train of thought with these posts has been clear–I’m no commentary-writer, that’s for sure. But the contents of the book of Philippians have given me such grace, and they culminate with this guided meditation releasing for you today.
In short, I’ve come to understand that Paul’s words in this letter aim to help the Philippian church acknowledge that which exudes the character and form of the Messiah in their lives. The world tells us it’s death, the gospel tells us it’s resurrection-life.
Through this study, I’ve come to see Philippians 4:9 as more of a spiritual discipline than a command. Instead of forcing ourselves to think about different things than the things that are very hard, Paul instructs a discipline of turning our eyes and hearts to the kingdom of heaven for the express purpose that we might be molded through our sufferings into the kind of people who are willing to be poured out.
Spiritual discipline also gives grace that we do not yet see fully, and that these disciplines (like practicing our scales in music) will train the muscles of our heart to revere God’s truth over what our bodies have been taught by a lifetime in this sinful world.
My prayer is that this guided meditation will lead you into a discipline that will train your hearts to sing with gratitude at your pleasures and sufferings alike in that they all serve to point us to the truth of the gospel. In a pleasure and comfort-soaked world, this takes work, indeed, both on the part of the Spirit and the intention of our patterned behavior.
May you know you’re not alone–even if it’s just you and I, the kingdom increases with each step we take toward trusting the gospel message with our whole life. I’m honored that we walk together, dear friend, even if in this one small corner of the internet.
Music in the meditation generously provided by
Stock music provided by heavenlysound, from Pond5
