Life Plan Devotion #105 [Philippians 4:19--Qualifications]

Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus" (NLT).

There are 3 qualifications for experiencing the manifestation of the Philippians 4:19 promise in your life: 1) You must have a need, 2) You must know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and 3) You must be a giver.
Paul writes, in Philippians 4:15-18, to the church at Philippi, "As you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only, for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (NIV).
Paul had a need, and, of all the churches that Paul visited, the only church who met that need was the Philippian church. Because they were sowers, they qualified for the Philippians 4:19 promise. They were the only ones to partner with Paul, so they got all the blessing "credited to [their] [spiritual] account" (4:17), and any blessing credited to one's spiritual account will also show up as blessing in one's natural circumstances.
If you are a giver, a sower, out meeting the needs of the Kingdom of God, doing your best for God, Philippians 4:19 applies to you. If you're a giver, you'll be a receiver! Be assured, also, that when you give to others, it is "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (4:18).

What this has to do with weight loss: There are many ways to be "a giver," while on your own weight-loss journey. Too often, we have tunnel vision; all we can see is the "pot of GOAL" at the end of the "not-so-rainbow like" journey. On your way to goal, look for ways to help others on their journey, and you will find that your own journey looks and feels much more like a beautiful rainbow.

Confession:
I look for opportunities to give, to sow, to meet the needs of others, and God is pleased to supply my every need.