Work in Progress – The Presidential Prayer Team

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

For many years, Saturday afternoon television was often tuned into the Wide World of Sports, introduced by Jim McKay who called out “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” That is an apt description of the emotional range encountered by athletes. Every athlete who is serious about his sport has experienced the highs and lows of competition. But if they want to “stay in the game,” they continue their training, rigorously, patiently, with discipline and consistency. They know it is a process, even if immediate results are not seen. This can also be descriptive of the microcosm of life.

Do you sometimes feel that God has had you in a training program? While He may give you a clear road map to where it is He is going to use that training, He often does not. In today’s verse, Paul urges confidence in the work God is doing. While you experience the highs and lows that correspond with the perceived wins and losses in your life, the Lord is still at work on your training, and He will not stop. He has accepted you as you are, but He is loving and gracious enough not to let you stay that way! God transforms you to be more Christ-like so that, in the process, He may be glorified.

God will give you the strength to persevere. Be patient with yourself during the training, especially when you do not see where God is taking you. Have confidence that He continues to work in you because He loves you. Pray for the men and women in the nation’s military, who are often called upon to have athletic ability, and who are in continual training. Pray that God would make Himself known to them in personal ways that transform their lives.

Today’s Verse: Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 12:1-2, 7-13

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

⁷It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹²Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.