Power to Change:
Completing the Work – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Philippians 1:3-11

Key Verse:  Philippians 1:6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I hope you can appreciate the apostle’s confidence in God’s ability to complete the work in us that He began!  I hope you can experience that confidence in your own spirit and thoughts.  I believe that too many Christ followers have lost confidence in their ability to change.  Too many believers have succumbed to doubt, then given up the battle to become better and stronger.

The first step in building our confidence is to understand and believe that God, indeed, wants to—plans to—do a great work in us!  We are not alone in some “self help” program that may or may not work!  We are God’s people, with a heavenly Father who never sleeps or slumbers.  Our Father wants to see daily improvement in His children.  In Philippians 2:13 Paul continues this same theme: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”  Believe in the God who wants to make good changes in you!

Secondly, believe in a God who not only has a plan for growth in us, but has committed Himself to the job of making it happen.  Once we become a child of God, by faith in Jesus, we are “enrolled” in God’s construction project!  Our Father begins a good work in us.  The scriptures describe this work as progressive.  In other words, God’s work in us is a lifelong project.  Colossians 1:11 reminds us of our need for patience in this process.  (More tomorrow.)

Father, I believe you have a growth plan for me.  I proclaim my faith in your ability to do the work in me.  Thank you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.