Shift Devo 1: Philippians 2:1-5
To shift is to be set free…
I remember reading the Bible as a kid. I remember feeling really inadequate. I was a reader with a giant imagination. My favorite movies were The Labyrinth and The Never Ending Story. I liked stories. But I felt I was going to get arrested by some heavenly angel bouncer or a church leader for not knowing how find Ezekiel or how to say Job (is it a name or something I’ll get when I’m 16?).
It’s not an easy book to digest or to get excited about, initially.
I think God uses different ways to bring the Bible to life for different people. For me, the Bible came to life at a summer camp. We were given some daily “devotions” to read–even that word was new to me at 15 years old. It was in that focused time on a smaller bit of God’s Word over a few days that really shifted my view of the Bible. It was alive. It had powerful things to say to us. It could speak to me and change me.
For me, it started in the book of Philippians. In these words, I felt a comfort and direction that I hadn’t felt before. I read these words just days before I prayed for God to forgive me and surrendered my whole life to him.
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, then make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interest of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” (Phi. 2:1-5)
The same mind.
All at once I knew.
That this was the point.
That we would have the same mind. Jesus wants to transform our minds, to shift them from what was to what was meant to be. But it starts with us saying a bold “OK” I’m in, Jesus. I’m all in–and putting it all out–everything is visible for you to see, even my own selfish stuff that usually keeps me from having your mind. I give it to you. Replace what’s there with what was meant to be.
To shift is to be free.
Ask yourself:
When did the words of the Bible begin to influence you? How have they began shifting your reality? If they seem scary and difficult. Start with the encouragement in the book of Philippians. Read a few verses each day and ask God for help. Get together with a few friends, and start reading it together. Trust that God will begin to speak–in words that you’ll be able to hear and understand.
Need a free Bible App? This one is great.
