Philling Up on Philippians: Standing Firm

Standing firm always meant one thing to me. The solitary figure standing alone against an enemy. It was always that way in the movies right? Outlaw Josey Wales comes to mind – or Jeremiah Johnson. I always wanted to be that strong guy who stood up to the enemy and sent him packing. But too often I was the one sent running home to lick my wounds – new and old. I repeatedly stepped into the battle, got my tail whipped and then felt horrible about losing and falling again and again. That’s still my pattern if I’m not careful. Here’s what I’ve figured out after hearing not just a few sermons on the topic at Watermark:

I can’t do this thing on my own.

I’m weak in certain areas that the enemy knows how to exploit all too well. My defenses are useless when I’m alone. I can’t see all the chinks in my armor, but the enemy sees them all and gets right in there. So, what to do? Funny, it’s right there in the Bible:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. – Philippians 1:28-29 ESV (Emphasis Added)

“Striving side by side.” How many times did I read over that and around it and by it never considering that it was there for me – that God wanted me to read it and understand it and believe it and apply it?

It’s so easy to blow off the Word in the places it doesn’t fit my intentions or my beliefs about myself. I tried and tried to stand firm on my own and defeat the enemy. I never could or at least, very infrequently. It’s only when I link arms with other men that I can stand firm and defeat the enemy. My brothers in arms can stand in the fight and show me the holes in my armor. They can watch my back. And I can do the same for them. It’s the only way this thing works. The days of the soldier of one have to end.

If you’re ready to stand firm, band together with some other men who want to do the same, cover the holes in each other’s armor and watch each other’s backs. It’s the only way you’ll do it.

Re-Thinking Things Just a Bit

Okay.  So last night I got all fired up and went ahead and announced my intentions for the next 99 day challenge.  However, I’m re-thinking things a bit this morning.  

I’m excited about the idea of taking on a complete book of scripture – Philippians or James for example – and memorizing the whole thing.  I think there’s something about memorizing big chunks of scripture like that that will be profitable to me.  However, after thinking about things a bit, I want to lower the bar just a bit.  I know that concept – lowering the bar – is antithetical to our must win, must improve society, but the realist in me is saying, “Why don’t you pick something you might actually have a chance at before you take on a huge task like that?” I don’t always listen to that guy (Randy Realist) but I think I will in this case.  He’s making some sense. 

My current thinking for the next challenge is this: I think I’ll do 99 days of solitude.  That doesn’t mean I’m going to take the next three months off and go live in isolation in a monastery somewhere. No (Still with me, Desi?).  It does mean that I’ll spend time in solitude for the next 99 days.  I need to figure out how I’ll define solitude.  For example, does reading a good Christian book count? I don’t think so.  Sorry
Donald Miller. No, I think it will look more like me sitting and reading a scripture, thinking about it for a while, and then journaling my prayers about that. 

For me, 99 days in a row of that will be a huge task.  I’m more active in my prayer and reading during some seasons and less so in others. Doing it for 99 days regardless of season or circumstance will be good for me.  

I need to figure out the ground rules and the start date, but I’ll have that in the next day or two.  

Looking forward to this next singular social experiment.  Wondering when will be the time to open up the challenge to more than just myself.  

To be continued.