Use these devotionals to explore God's word. Pick a day each week to do them and find a good time, like on your bus ride. Save this page for easy access. Regularly reading scripture is like feeding yourself, so you need to do it often to stay spiritually healthy.

Contentment

Key Passage (Philippians 4:12-13): “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

How fantastic would it be to feel content all the time? To feel happy and satisfied with what you have, not want more, but be happy with what we have. Well, Paul says he has the secret in this section. 

Most of us never feel content. We look around for more all the time, no matter what we have. Most of us define contentment as having everything that we want. But true contentment is wanting only what you have. And if we have Christ, we have the greatest treasure we will ever have or could ever have. He is the one who will give rest and satisfaction to our souls. Nothing we could ever look for our find in this world can do that, not even good things. 

One key thing we learn about contentment in these verses is that it is learned. We have to learn to be satisfied in Christ and his good gifts.

The second is that contentment isn’t dependent on circumstance. Being poor and being wealthy can both distract us from God. Poverty because we’re always thinking about our needs rather than about God, and wealth because it makes us feel like we don’t need God anymore. Paul has been practising the art of knowing and believing that Christ is sufficient or enough to every situation. What Paul realised was that being content had nothing to do with what happened to him in his life. Instead, it was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that made him content. That was the secret of contentedness.

Reflect: What might you need to put less priority in? How can you learn to be content in knowing Christ in your life over and above other things? Are you ready to let go of your reputation? Your wealth (or lack thereof)?

Pray: Thank you – Thank God for his love for you, for his good gifts in your life. Name specific things in prayer that you are grateful for this week. 

Sorry – Say sorry to God for times when you have not been content in Christ sacrifice. Maybe your heart or mind has slipped into putting things over our relationship with God. 

Please – Ask God to help you to learn to be content in him and all his good gifts. 

That he would help you see things with his perspective. 

Disagreements

Key Scripture (Philippians 4: 1-3): “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!  I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of Life.”

Disagreements among friends can get ugly, can't they? My friend and I in primary school used to have disagreements that lasted days, and we would both avoid each other, causing confusion among our friend group. One time, a tutor got involved and helped us talk it out. A disagreement in a friend group between two people can damage the whole group.

It’s clear in this passage that something is going on here for Euodia and Syntyche and Paul is keen for it to be resolved and is asking that they make peace for the sake of the community.  Paul's instruction is to stand firm and be of one mind in the Lord. This is not just directed to individuals but to the church and the community. 

For us to work as a team at youth and part of church, we must be at peace with each other. Sometimes, that means having tough conversations and sorting things out, but this is important for the health of our church family. When people hold things against each other, it only tears the community apart and stops them from achieving their goal (pressing on in faith and honouring Jesus).

Jesus says ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Matt 5:9), and Paul urges in Romans 12:17-18, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Peacemaking matters. How can we be peacemakers this week? 

Reflect: How can you make peace ‘as far as it depends on you’? Is there someone you need to apologise to or check in with? Is there someone you might need to speak to tell them you were hurt to give an opportunity of healing to the relationship?  

Pray: For a humble heart. That God would help you to work things through with your church family and SwizYouth crew for the sake of Loving Jesus and each other well. Ask God to show you people you might need to speak to apologise to or ask for some resolution. Ask him for what you need this week. Maybe its energy, grace for your family, peace…whatever is on your heart bring it to God in prayer. 

Rejoice in the Lord

Key Scripture (Philippians 3:1-2) “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.”

When I was about 14, I was walking my dog in a park very casually when a group of jogging Vancouverites and their pampered dogs jogged past with little warning, some of them on bikes – the people, that is. My dog was startled and dragged me about four meters along the gravel path horizontally, my legs and face being ground up by the rocks. I was injured; I had failed to let go of the leash and was dragged headlong. 

In this passage, Paul uses the title “those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh” to refer to teachers who are going around telling people they must do more than have faith in Jesus: they must also take up Jewish practices such as circumcision to order to be saved. These teachers were pulling people away from the core of what it meant to be saved by Jesus' grace: accepting him in faith. Don’t be distracted, Paul urges. Don’t lose sight of the grace you’ve been given, and ‘Rejoice in the Lord!’ Don’t grumble but be joyful because of what Christ has done. 

We are so easily distracted and can be dragged away (like my dog did to me) by meaningless and sometimes damaging things. We can forget what Christ has done for us and that he has made us right before him. Instead of being filled with the joy of knowing him, we can get stuck in routines of reading scripture or just attending church out of duty, not joy. The joy on offer in Christ is not the kind of short-lived happiness we get when we have a good day or eat our favourite food; this is a lasting hope that is in the future and shaping our lives now. It cannot be shaken by things in this world. It doesn’t fade. So let's not be distracted by religious routines or other things in our lives but be filled with the joy of the hope of Jesus. 

Reflect: How can you encourage your discussion group or family or friends to rejoice in the hope of Jesus? How can you keep yourself from being distracted? Are you just ‘going through the motions’, not being filled with the joy of hope of Jesus?

Pray: Pray that God will help you to rejoice in him always. Ask him to renew your time of prayer and study so that it doesn’t become an empty routine. Ask for his strength to keep going toward the goal of following him without being distracted by things that will not help. 

Grumbling is Not an Option.

Key Scripture (Philippians 2: 14-16) ^“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.”

We often grumble about things that may not go our way. Maybe we didn’t get the grade we wanted on a test, or we didn’t make the sports team we tried out for. It’s easy to get caught up in our frustrations and forget about all the good things we have in our lives, more than that, to forget about our most precious gift: Jesus. Paul encourages the Philippian Church to conduct ourselves ‘in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). This means putting faith in practice and intentionally obeying God. One way to do this, Paul is encouraging, is to do everything ‘without grumbling or arguing (2:14). Paul means everything in every situation, even in hardship. When we grumble, we ultimately show a lack of trust in God. How can we find the strength to never grumble? In verse 16, Paul tells the Philippians to hold firmly to the word of life. This implies effort and attention. Grumbling won’t disappear with a vague flapping effort. We must hold tighter to God’s truth than our discontentment. Turn our grumbling into prayer, making our requests known to God. We must hold our tongues and follow Christ’s example. We can make a conscious decision to take our heart to God. Not to grumble before him but to ask him to change us and to tell him our frustrations and sadness. 

Reflect: What am I unhappy about and finding I’m grumbling about at the moment? Are there specific areas? Times? 

Pray: Bring your heart to God. If you have sadness, anger, or disappointment, bring it before him. Ask him to help you to live each day without grumbling but to remember all he has done, and by doing so, be a blessing to those around you and glorify God. 

Jesus Is The Only Boasting Point

Key Scripture (Philippians 2:2-4): "…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Last devotion, we reflected on representing Christ and how we should honour him in our actions. This verse helps us unpack what that looks like. Paul here encourages godly behaviour anchored in a person's love of God. Read over the scripture again. If we are honest with ourselves, this is a hard ask. Doing NOTHING out of selfish ambition or conceit? Being humble. It isn't easy. Why would we value others over ourselves? If you're wearing the Jesus Jersey, I hope you think Jesus is awesome. Well, he was humble; everything he did was done in humility. He became human and gave his life for you and all humanity, rising again to bring eternal life for those who hope in him. So, we should live like that striving to love others as he loved them. Looking out for what the bible often calls the 'orphan and the widow; in other words, anyone who needs support. We easily become arrogant and selfish, though, don't we? I suggest a three-fold antidote to this. 1. Knowing (in our hearts and minds) who God is and his place as our saviour, so reminder yourself of the gospel regularly. 2. Asking the Holy Spirit to change us with his power because we can't do it alone. 3. Actively training our thoughts and actions. Stop your thoughts. Ask, is this valuing others over me? Is this loving and self-sacrificial? Am I honouring Christ? If not, pray, stop yourself, retry. God is the God of Grace.

Reflect: How might I need to change my habits or behaviours to be more loving? How can you look after the interests of others this week? Perhaps it's sitting with the new person at school or helping clear up even when not asked to at home. Think of something you can do to put others first today. 

Pray: Pray a prayer structured as...

Thank you (People, provision. Pray thanks for God's work in your life.)

Sorry (we all fall short of obeying God and living as he asks us to, and when we honestly ask him for forgiveness, he washes it away!) 

Please (ask him for anything you need, for provision for you and your family. Pray for those in your discussion group. Pray for family or friends who need God's love and care.

Wearing is Caring

Key Scripture (Philippians 1:27-28): “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.”

Who hates school uniforms? I did, tucking in your shirt, feeling sticky and hot in summer uniform but not allowed to take your blazer off. The teachers say, ‘You represent the school, so wear it well’. When you walk around with ‘Ravenswood’ or ‘Barker’ or ‘PLC’ on your Jersey, people think a particular thing about you, don’t they? In a way, you represent the school to people at the station or on the street, right? They might think better or worse of your school depending on your behaviour. 

In this verse, Paul urges the Philippians church to ‘wear their uniform well’ to represent their faith to the world. Have you ever thought that you are representative of Jesus? Think about that for a moment. If you’ve accepted Christ, you are walking around with his name on you. You’re a member of his team, wearing a “Jesus Christ” jersey. So, it makes sense for you to honour his name with what you do. 

If you’re representing Jesus, you have a responsibility and a privilege to share him with the world by seeking to imitate his love and kindness. Paul in Ephesians talks about being “kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:32 ESV). So, we are encouraged to be obedient in loving and caring for others. Christ cared for the sick, suffering, and lonely. How can you do the same?   

Reflect: Are you living with the heart knowledge that you ‘Bear the name of Christ?’ Wearing HIS ‘Jersey’? Can people in your life see that you are wearing the Jesus Jersey? Are you representing the team well?  What might you need to change? It might help to write your reflections in a notebook. 

Pray: Thank God that He has called you into life following him. Pray that God will help you represent him well to those around you today and this week.

Thankfulness and Joy in a Team

Key Scripture (Philippians 1:3-6): I thank my God whenever I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.

Take a moment. Think about Paul writing this from his prison cell. How can he be writing with Joy? Verse five answers that for us doesn’t it, ‘because of your (the church in Philippi) partnership in the gospel'. Paul is filled with Joy because the church he planted is working with him toward a common goal: glorifying Jesus! Even in jail, he is encouraged by them.

How good would it be if we at SwizYouth could be filled with joy by seeing each other follow Jesus, how good if we could call each other up even in a tough situation and be joyful because we have a common faith? We are a team working toward a common goal at church. You can encourage, pray for and 'partner with' your peers at the youth group. 

Reflect: How can you be a good 'teammate' to your SwizYouth family? How might you encourage and support someone in your discussion group this week? 

Pray: Thank God for your discussion group members, pray for them, ask God to strengthen their faith, and give you Joy. Pray that God would help you, even in hard situations, encourage and be encouraged by your group.