Well-being

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

So we continue with looking at what the bible says about our well-being and we firstly consider the effect of anxiety on our faith in Christ. Arthur Somers Roche, states that Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained.”

In the context of our verse from Philippians we may well take the advice of Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China and founder of what is today known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship, when he advices: "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into [God's] hand; and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about.”

The American painter, John Sargent, once painted a panel of roses that was highly praised by critics. It was a small picture, but it approached perfection. Although offered a high price for it on many occasions, Sargent refused to sell it. He considered it his best work and was very proud of it. Whenever he was deeply discouraged and doubtful of his abilities as an artist, he would look at it and remind himself, "I painted that." Then his confidence and ability would come back to him. 

The picture in this verse is the picture that God in Christ paints in our lives as we flourish confidently in his hands.

Let me repeat Philippians 1:6 using The Message Paraphrase where we find Paul saying, “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

Dear Father, please make your presence even more powerfully known in my life as I seek your will and commit to live to your glory. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.