Philippians 4:13
Thoughts from Meghan Fravel
Dive Deeper
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
Behind the Scenes
This week in our devo series, we are talking about how we are conquerors in Christ. Look at that word – conquerors. Does it bring up the image of war for you? Do you picture lines of horses with gun-carrying men atop aiming their weapons at each other? Or maybe, you see a couple of sports teams on the field where one is decimating the other.
According to Webster, a conqueror is one who overcomes an adversary. What’s an adversary? Again, I went to Webster: an adversary is one who contends with, opposes, or resists. So, a conqueror is one who overcomes those who contend, oppose, or resist them. In Christ, WE overcome the one who contends with us, opposes us, and resists us.
Our verse this week, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” speaks to us being conquerors. But it is one of the most misused verses in the Bible. One might think that if I can do all things, I can conquer all things, so I can overcome gravity and fly. I can overcome the stock market and become a millionaire. I can overcome cancer and heal my dying mother. I can overcome death and bring back my wayward child. But we need to take a look at the context around this verse to see what Paul is really talking about.
In the previous verses, Paul is speaking about being content in whatever situation he finds himself in. At times, he found himself in need, and at times he had all he needed. Whatever the situation, even sitting in a Roman prison, Paul was able to be content. But he had to learn contentment because it is not a natural state for mankind to be in.
And what he is saying in our verse today is that no matter what happened to him, no matter the circumstance or struggle, he was content through the power of his Savior, Jesus Christ. He tells us in verses 6-7 how he does that. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is how we conquer worry or stress or discontentment.
Make it Real
Easier said than done – I get that. But in Christ, we are conquerors. Can I conquer gravity and fly? No, but I can be content looking at the birds in the sky conquer gravity. Can I take down Wall Street and become a millionaire? Not likely, but I can give my first tenth to God and trust Him with the rest. Can I cure my mother of cancer? I sure wish I could, but that is in God’s hands. Can I make my children believe as I believe? No, but I can trust them to the God who loves them more than I could ever imagine loving them.
You see, with Christ, I can bear up under any trial, stress, or worry. Without Him, I would be crushed by the weight of the world. It might look like the mother grieving her dead child, simply taking her next breath, but without the power of Christ, that breath wouldn’t come. It might look like the broken and rejected man taking the next step to go to work, where without Christ, he might just give up. It might look like the family scraping together a few dollars to buy food and being thankful for the extra dollar they found in the couch. We know that in this world, we will have trials, but with Christ, we can bear up under them because, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Where in your life do you need to be a conqueror? Where do you need to lean into Him and His power to get you to your next breath, step, dollar? Claim the power you are promised when you surrender your life to Him and be the conqueror!
Colleen McGeorge
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Father God, WOW! I can be content in every situation. I can be thankful in every situation. I can be victorious in every situation. Because Jesus!! Thank You for sending down Your beloved so I can live as conqueror!