When we trust in the flesh, we rely on what we see, feel, and do in the actions of self or others, and try to keep our lives or the world from changing. This carnal thinking about the earthly realm is placing confidence in the physical or temporal and what WE can do, rather than on Christ and His exceeding power and wisdom working in the inner man. Recall: “…for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (I Cor. 7:31) We can’t always have or keep what we want or feel is needed. Circum-stances and desires constantly fluctuate. As we live the roles we have, (i.e. wives, mothers, or friends), we can ready ourselves for this unpredictable, evil world:
1) Prepare/Focus: Philippians 3 teaches us to put our confidence in Christ and the doctrine we’ve attained unto so far to walk it out by faith and to keep the goal to press toward the mark. This enables us to win Christ. Expect there will be suffering as challenges are often inevitable. Purpose to be real to see this world as it is, yet knowing our Father loves us and is always with us through it all. (Rom. 8:31-39)
2) Live Confidently as Who We Are: Recall we are in Christ, saints of the Most High, and members of His Body: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Phil. 3:3)
3) Don’t Take Things for Granted, be Grateful Even in Difficulties: Daily thank God for spiritual things, health, a good job, and your husband. Communicate with others in love, make wise choices, be observant, humbly adjust thinking as needed, and be open to change, looking to God. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (II Cor. 4:8-10)
3) Be in the Moment: Stop fretting about the past or future, avoid the trap of trusting in what others think or even judging yourself. Paul said these things are of little value: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” (I Cor. 4:3-4) Be present where you are and spiritually in what you’ve been given to walk by faith. “…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14) Make the most of the resources God has given, using this wisdom to be ready to serve as a living sacrifice, while focusing above.
3) Learn to Apply the Word to Pivot and Adapt as New Challenges Arise: When we are flexible and ready we can easily adjust to jump the hurdles in life, make about face turns, or pick ourselves up and shake it off to get back to our faith walk. Placing our faith in the doctrine we have attained unto will empower us to avoid trusting ourselves to win Christ: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Phil 3:9)
Reflect: Read through Philippians 3 and take time to think about what we are trusting in as we go through the week. Are we spiritual children in Christ trusting in this world, or adults willing to be ambassadors and living sacrifices? This is a tall order, but it is why God left us here on earth. So many need to hear the Truth to grow and others are desperate to be justified and saved from the Lake of Fire. Are we confident and ready in godly love to say, “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” as Christ said unto the Father as He was headed to the cross. (Luke 22:42) This is our reasonable service by being constrained by Christ’s love.
