Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9) 

We previously addressed how to keep our spiritual balance in the face of tests and trials, weakness, temptation, persecution, and doubt. These are the things that can assail us in this life. How can we be spiritually strong, sturdy, and steadfast? All of us at times find ourselves weak and unable to stand. So, where do we go? We must turn to God. 

It’s so important for us to find our spiritual strength and stability. Not only is spiritual instability intolerable in our own life, but it affects others around us. A badly crushed believer is a contradiction to the watching world of unbelievers who can’t understand how you can profess an all-sufficient God, but then live as if your God was not sufficient. 

In Philippians 4:1-8, Paul says in order to enjoy spiritual stability, believers must be characterized by peace, joy, humility, faith, and gratitude. These godly attitudes are produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we live a Spirit-led life. The solution to the problems we face is having the right attitudes. 

Along with having the right attitudes, however, we must also discipline ourselves to have godly thinking patterns. How you think is vital, since your thoughts will insulate your mind from those things that assault you. And the source for all those thoughts is the Word of God. 

But Paul gives us one last vital point in verse 9. He tells us to rise up and put into practice the demands of the Christian gospel. This calls for disciplined Christian living. Obedience to God’s Word should be the regular pattern of our lives. Our spiritual stability finally comes down to the matter of living a life disciplined to obey God’s way for us. 

When you have godly attitudes, produced by the Holy Spirit, and godly thoughts, produced by the Word of God, together they act like a policeman that arrests your flesh before it can commit the crime. So, if your attitudes aren’t godly and your thoughts are not biblical, the “policeman” isn’t on duty to arrest you before you indulge your sinful desire. 

The Bible speaks of ongoing warfare within every believer between the Spirit and the flesh: For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things you please (Galatians 5:17). 

Christians who practice sin will suffer spiritual anxiety. However, purity in your behavior produces peace and stability. 

By Jim Connell 

Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and the author of JesusIsLordBlog.com