GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 77
Living for What Really Matters
PHILIPPIANS
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I smiled when I looked at our verses in my Bible today, because Ezekiel’s name is next to
Philippians 1:9-11. This passage is full of immense encouragement, but we’re also going to dig
into Paul’s larger purpose in these words.
Write Philippians 1:9-11:
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One of the beautiful ways God’s Word can minister to us is by giving us language for our
prayers. Have you ever prayed names into Scripture? Read verses 9-11 again, and ask God to bring
someone to mind. Fill their name into the blanks:
Lord Jesus, it is my prayer that ___________________________’s love may abound more and
more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that ____he/she____ may approve what is
excellent, and so _____________________ may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Father, may _________________________ be filled with the fruit of righteousness that
comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Amen!xiii
In addition to giving us language for prayer, God’s Word can equip us to affirm and encourage
others directly. Consider how someone might respond if you spoke those words over them:
____________________________, I know that your love will abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, so that you ________________________ will approve what is
excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. __________________________,
you are filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and
praise of God!
Aren’t these the kinds of words that speak life into another person? I learned the importance of
life-giving words from my parents. When I was young and my brother Erik and I got caught being
rude to each other, my folks would make us say five kind things about the other person as we
apologized. I hated it. Erik hated it. But now as an adult I know the purpose of this exercise. If we
want to build up those around us—and in the case of me and my brother, if we want to move
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