What Really Matters

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Philippians 1

For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. (Philippians 1:10 NLT)

There’s just so much good stuff in this first chapter of Philippians! In verse three, Paul writes, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God!” What a great attitude, what a great way to think and feel about someone – “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God!” I immediately began to think about some people in my life who affect me that way. There are people from both past and present whose effect on me is so good and helpful that I almost reflexively thank God for them every time I think of them.

But I digress!  On to verse 10 – “What really matters.”

It is so hard to keep clear on what really matters! There is so much going on, so many things clamoring for attention, so many competing voices and values that it’s hard to say at any given time that I’m thinking clearly on “what really matters.”

Paul prayed for the believers at Philippi that they would understand what really matters so that they would live pure and blameless lives until Jesus comes back.

One reason doing daily devotions is so good for me is that it gives me a specific time each day to stop and shut out (or at least turn down the volume on) all the other competing voices and noises that clamor for my attention.

That way I can listen for God’s voice to speak to me in the quiet and personal time of reading from God’s Word and then prayerfully thinking about what his Word is saying to me at this time and place in my own life.

Over the past few years, I’ve incorporated three questions into my devotional meditative quiet times:

  • Who Am I? Roles and identities become blurred in the changing seasons of life.
  • What Really Matters? Seasons change, values adjust, new priorities emerge.
  • How Much Is Enough? How much work, how much stuff, how much control?

Prayer:

Thanks, Father, for speaking to me today about what really matters. I renew my determination to daily listen for your voice and build my life on your values. I want to daily understand what really matters. I open my heart to your promptings. Amen!