Saturday... It is a safeguard. It really is.

Philippians 3:1 (NLT) says, "Whatever happens." Now, there are so many things that come into our life to bring us down, to discourage us or to lift us up and strengthen us. They come into our lives with many things in mind. It all depends where they are coming from.

Has something happened in your day today that is bringing you down and everybody around you? You are so ready to climb back into bed and never get up? What is it that has headed you in the wrong direction? Now the evil one knows your buttons. Your family also knows. My dad used to say, "I'm tired of walking on eggs with you." He had so many good phrases.

Now Paul doesn't stop here. He has a solution. He says, "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord." Not just the good stuff but whatever happens. Remember Paul is writing this while he is in chains. That whatever did not bring him down.

He goes on, "I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith." And do we ever need safeguards because we really do need faith. How we handle whatever happens can either destroy our faith or strengthen it.

And here is why it is so important to safeguard your faith. In 9b he says, "I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith." Faith is so very important.

In verses 13-14 (NIV) Paul says, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind" The whatevers that have happened. "and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." We need to rejoice in whatever happens in order to protect our faith to become what God wants us to to be in order for us to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus."

So, remember, rejoicing in our whatever happens is a safeguard for our faith. And we really do need faith. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

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Todays Beginning

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