A Life Shaped and Re-shaped by Prayer

Wednesday, Week 2 - Philippians 2: 12-13: Living with Intentionality

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Paul was a strong leader who was highly respected.  It appears that when Paul was present, the people tended to respond with devotion to God and faithful service to others.  It’s sort of like when the CEO visits your office, or the school principal or dean sits in on your class, everyone is on their best behavior. Sometimes the appearance of the authority figure may even induce a measure of fear and trembling.

Paul is aware that when he was present the people acted one way; but now that he is absent, tensions and conflicts have crept in.   The remedy for this problem cannot be Paul’s physical return; he is in prison after all.  Moreover, the remedy for this problem should not be Paul’s physical return, for this movement called Christianity is not about Paul, it’s about Christ!   “I am absent,” Paul writes, “but God is not!”  God (in Christ) is present, at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

What about that “fear and trembling?”   Ultimately this is rooted in the belief that what God wants for us is wholeness; (the Greek word we translate as salvation can also be translated as wholeness).  To turn toward God and “obey,” (to use Paul’s word) is the path to life.  To turn away from God, perhaps out of economic fear or trembling over your status in life leads from wholeness to isolation, desolation, brokenness.

One way to seek to turn toward God and to respond to the movement of God’s Spirit within you, is to seek to live with intentionality.  This is no formula for this, and living with intentionality does not prescribe what you must do.  However, in the plethora of choices in life, many of which are distractions or temptations, seeking to live with intentionality can be a helpful guide toward what we seek most deeply.

Prayer in the morning traditionally has been focused on the day ahead, “help me Lord to live with intentionality.”  Prayer at the end of the day traditionally has included a review of the day that has been passed.  As you prepare for sleep at night, think back on the day that is past.  Practice giving thanks for those times when in your work, conversations, daily duties, rest and recreation, you sensed that you were living with intentionality.  Then confess and ask for forgiveness for the times when you were not.

Thank you Lord for being present with us in everything.  Inspire us to live our lives with even more intentionality so that we might come to experience a greater sense of wholeness, purpose, and life.  Amen.