Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: Wisdom for Work from PhilippiansDevotional: 4 of 46 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:6-8)I’ve heard Philippians 4:6-7 and Philippians 4:8 preached separately many times. But I’ve never heard these passages preached together. That’s a mistake because there’s a clear connection between anxiety and the things we choose to think about.That truth has become more apparent as we’ve seen smartphones, social media, and 24 hour news services combine to create a culture of non-stop doomscrolling this past decade.As Jonathan Haidt says in The Anxious Generation, “the great irony of social media,” is that “the more you immerse yourself in it, the more lonely and depressed,” and anxious, “you become.” Because most of what’s on social media and modern news services is not “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable.” It’s infotainment designed to make us addicted and anxious.Of course, we can’t do our most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others if we are constantly anxious. So how can we “guard our hearts and our minds”? Here are 3 ideas.First, experiment with my low information, low anxiety diet for 7 days. I haven’t read the news regularly in almost 10 years. And it’s not a coincidence that I’m far less anxious today than I was a decade ago. Let me encourage you to give my low information, low anxiety diet a try. Delete all social media and news apps from your phone. Then set a reminder to email me in one week to tell me what important, true, and noble things you missed. (Spoiler alert: You won’t miss any. Your friends will tell you about what you truly need to know. Let them.) If that sounds too extreme, try this…Second, confine when you check news and social media to set times—maybe the last 15 minutes of your workday. Need help avoiding the temptation to check outside those set times? Use an app like Freedom or a Brick device (which I am increasingly obsessed with).Finally, read the news with the Holy Spirit. Whenever you do consume news and social media content, be sure you’re reading it with the Holy Spirit. And as you feel anxiety rising up within you, “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Discover the transformative power of following Christ's example through the lives of others. Dive into the importance of Christian biographies and how they can inspire your spiritual journey. The conversation emphasizes gratitude for mentors who've shaped your faith. Additionally, a new book is introduced, promising fresh insights into the lives of influential Christian figures. Tune in for thought-provoking discussions that encourage you to emulate godly values and appreciate the models around you.

Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: Wisdom for Work from PhilippiansDevotional: 2 of 4Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. (Philippians 2:14-15)Want to “shine among” the non-Christians you work with? Paul tells you how: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” Apparently, working without grumbling and complaining was as countercultural in Paul’s day as it is in ours.C.S. Lewis once said that, “Hell begins with a grumbling mood.” The inverse is also true. People can get a whiff of heaven through the joyful mood of its citizens. Dr. Randy Alcorn goes so far as to say that, “Happiness in Christ is one of our most powerful evangelistic tools.”The question, of course, is how can we be joyful and work without grumbling when your co-worker replies all to yet another email or your boss makes an urgent request at 4:45 on a Friday? By focusing on what Christ has done for us.Just a few verses before today’s passage, Paul writes about how Christ “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death” for you and me (see verse 8). “Therefore,” Paul says in verse 14, “do everything without grumbling or arguing.”The cross is the source of our joy amidst less than desirable circumstances. Once you focus on what Christ accomplished for you at Calvary, grumbling about the smell in the office refrigerator feels ridiculous. Tim Keller once compared it to being a “spiritual billionaire…wringing your hands over ten dollars.”Grumbling is so second nature we often don’t notice we’re doing it. Here are three simple ways to prevent, confess, and respond to complaining.First, prevent grumbling by writing Philippians 2:14-15 somewhere you’ll see it while you work. On a post-it note, your phone background—wherever.Second, confess grumbling by creating a grumble jar. And every time you or someone on your team complains, drop in a dollar (or, if you’re like me and never carry cash, an IOU to tally later). My family and I did this recently to break a different habit and it was shockingly effective. We were able to kick our habit in less than a month. Finally, respond to grumbling by expressing gratitude. Think back to the last thing you complained about and thank God for something related to that thing. For example, this morning I grumbled about the house being a mess. But I then said a quick prayer of gratitude that I have children to make said mess.Do whatever it takes to wrestle your grumbling to the ground, believer. Because as Dr. Alcorn put it, “Our happiness makes the gospel contagiously appealing; our unhappiness makes it alarmingly unattractive.”

Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: Wisdom for Work from PhilippiansDevotional: 1 of 4For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. (Philippians 1:21-22)Today, we’re kicking off a new series exploring wisdom for our work from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, looking at one insight from each of the book’s four chapters.We begin in chapter 1 with Paul’s words that—so long as he’s alive—he will give himself to “fruitful labor” for the kingdom.Those words are countercultural today as retirement remains a goal for the vast majority of Americans. And thanks to the growing “Financial Independence, Retire Early” FIRE movement, Gen Z plans to retire earlier than any previous generation at the ripe young age of 54.How do these people plan to spend the second half of life? The social media bio of a leader of the FIRE movement is telling to that end: “Mr. Money Mustache was a thirtysomething retiree who now writes about how we can all lead a frugal yet Badass life of leisure.”This idea of trading hard work for endless leisure finds zero support in Scripture. Theologian Dr. R. Paul Stevens puts it bluntly: “there is no concept of retirement in the Bible.”Which is why Paul wrote constantly about the Christian’s call to work hard as long as we “go on living in the body.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 is just one example: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”And let’s not forget that while many of us are chasing financial independence, Jesus chased financial dependence (see Matthew 8:20 and Luke 8:2-3). And while many of us are calculating when we can stop working, Jesus said he glorified the Father by finishing the work the Father gave him to do (see John 17:4).God may call you to retire from the work you do for pay. But I guarantee you that he won’t call you to retire from “abounding in the work of the Lord.”Now, before you financial advisors reply to this email in outrage, hear this: There is nothing wrong with saving money for a day when you may no longer be able to work for pay. I do! But to call yourself an image bearer of Christ and then trade a productive life with a life of endless leisure is to take the Lord’s name in vain. You know how lightbulbs shine brightest just before they burn out? That is a picture of the life of Paul and the life of Christ that you and I are made to image. Resolve to image him well as you seek fruitful labor today and to the very end.

Explore how focusing too much on discerning God's will can keep you from acting on it. The discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing action over hesitation in faith. With insights from biblical figures like Paul, it encourages listeners to embrace freedom in decision-making while actively pursuing God's desired path. Get inspired to stop overthinking and start doing!

Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: God's Will for Your WorkDevotional: 3 of 4Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)The hardest decision I’ve ever made professionally was to step down as CEO of Threshold 360 six years ago. I loved leading that fast growing tech startup. And I also loved creating faith and work content like these devotionals. But I was convinced that I had to put all my professional eggs in one of those two baskets.I knew neither path was a “higher calling”—I could follow Jesus fully in either role. But I still spent months paralyzed, desperate to discern God’s will for my work.Part of what freed me was today’s passage, knowing that regardless of which path I chose, as long as my heart was submissive to God today, he would make my paths straight tomorrow. As we’ve already seen in this series, Scripture says very little about God’s will for you tomorrow, but a lot about God’s will for you today—namely that he wills us to obey him and walk in the way of The Way, Jesus Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3).So long as you’re doing that, there’s no such thing as a “wrong” decision. As Tim Keller once said, “for a Christian, there is no ‘plan B.’” Because God’s purposes will always prevail (see Proverbs 19:21). That brings me to the third biblical truth for discerning God’s will for your work… Truth #3: There is no wrong way if you are following The Way.Here’s how pastor Jerry Sittser articulated this idea: “If we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness…then whatever choices we make concerning the future become the will of God for our lives. There are many pathways we could follow…As long as we are seeking God, all of them can be God’s will for our lives, although only one—the path we choose—actually becomes his will.”In other words, it is impossible to seek the kingdom of God and miss the will of God. There is no wrong way if you are following The Way.What decision are you agonizing over at work? Should you stay or leave your job? Go back to school? Say yes or no to a big project? If none of your options violate God’s commands, relax. Pray for wisdom. And unless you hear a clear answer, choose freely and confidently—knowing the Lord will make your path straight.

Explore the fascinating concept of freedom within God's commands as discussed in 1 Corinthians 7. The analogy of kids playing safely within a fenced yard highlights how God allows choices within moral boundaries. Discover why seeking permission for actions already given the green light can limit your faith. Learn to embrace the freedom to make decisions while honoring God's teachings, showing that obeying His commands is what truly counts.

Dive into the intriguing exploration of discerning God's will for your work. Uncover the surprising truth that Scripture emphasizes focusing on today rather than worrying about tomorrow. Learn the significance of prioritizing God's kingdom in your daily actions. Discover actionable steps that align with His will, leading to freedom, clarity, and joy in your professional journey. This insightful discussion offers a fresh perspective on faith and work that encourages listeners to embrace the present.

Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: Mere Christians of the BibleDevotional: 5 of 5…the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me….I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:14-15, 22-23)In the past few centuries, many churches have unbiblically elevated the callings of pastors and missionaries above those of “mere Christians”—teachers, small business owners, mechanics, and others working outside the pulpit. It’s no surprise that modern believers often forget the Apostle Paul was a mere Christian himself who worked as a tentmaker (see Acts 18:1-3). Paul didn’t take up this work out of necessity. As today’s passage shows, he could have exercised his “right” to work as a donor-supported missionary. But he chose not to because he saw his work as a strategic vehicle becoming “all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”Tim Keller’s research highlights that “80% or more of evangelism in the early church was done not by ministers or evangelists” but by mere Christians like Paul and the others we’ve explored in this series. And that continues to be true today. Mere Christians aren’t on the JV team of Christianity—we are the primary means through which God spreads his glorious gospel!How should you and I respond to that truth?First, prayerfully consider taking your job with you overseas. More and more countries are closing their doors to Christian missionaries. But those same countries will happily open those same doors to Christian mathematicians, medical doctors, and managers. My friend Andrew Scott wrote a terrific book with case study after case study of what God is doing through mere Christians working in these largely unreached nations. Ask God if he’s calling you to follow suit.  Second, regardless of where you work, build a list of Launchers. Conversations with lost co-workers often stay at surface-level topics like sports or our favorite TV shows. But with a tiny bit of intentionality, you can easily steer conversations with non-believers from the surface, to the serious, to the spiritual. And Launchers is an unbelievably simple tool that enables it! A list of Launchers contains two things: The names of people you’re trying to share the gospel withNext to each name, a list of questions or topics you think might launch your next conversation with them from the surface, to the serious, to the spiritualKeep your list of Launchers on a note on your phone, in a journal—wherever. See a screenshot of mine here.I can not tell you how many times God has used my list of Launchers to open up deep spiritual conversations with the non-Christians in my life. I am confident the same will be true for you.

This discussion highlights the risks of idleness as addressed in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. It reveals how some believers misinterpret Christ’s teachings to justify laziness. Practical strategies are shared to combat this tendency and maintain a strong work ethic. The emphasis is on proactive engagement in daily labor, reminding us that vigilance in our tasks prepares us for Christ’s return.