September 21 – 26, 2026
FIRST things FIRST...Daily Formation
September 28 – October 3, 2026
Monday: Proverbs 3:5–6 — Philippians 4:1–9
There are times when we just don't know what to do. We have a decision to make, and we don't know which way to go. We make lists. We talk to people. We worry about it. Then we worry about it some more. Trust in the Lord. That doesn't mean we stop thinking. It means we recognize that we don't have to have all the answers. God doesn't ask us to see the whole path. He asks us to trust Him with the next step.
Prayer: Lord, there are things I don't understand, help me to trust You.
Tuesday: Habakkuk 3:17–18 — Philippians 4:1–9
Habakkuk gives us one of those passages that sounds great until you actually think about what he's saying. He's basically saying, “Even if everything goes wrong, I'm still going to rejoice in God.” We like rejoicing when things are going well. But what happens when they don't? That's where faith becomes real. Habakkuk says that even if everything around him falls apart, God is still enough. That's a powerful thing to remember. The circumstances may change. God doesn't.
Prayer: God, help me not to let my circumstances determine how I see You.
Wednesday: Romans 12:18 — Philippians 4:1–9
Paul actually names two women in Philippians who aren't getting along. Euodia and Syntyche. Paul's advice is pretty straightforward: work toward peace. Romans gives us a similar challenge: “As far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” I think those words “as far as it depends on you” are important. We can't control what somebody else does. We can't make somebody apologize. We can't make somebody forgive us. We can't make somebody change. But we can control what we do. We can take the first step. We can apologize. We can forgive. We can decide that winning the argument isn't worth damaging the relationship.
Prayer: Lord, help me look honestly at my relationships.
Thursday: Psalm 46:1–2 — Philippians 4:1–9
One of the things I love about this Psalm is that it doesn't say, “There will never be trouble.” And right in the middle of all of it, the Psalm says: “God is our refuge and strength.” Sometimes we want God to remove every problem. And sometimes He does. But sometimes He doesn't remove the problem. Instead, He reminds us that we don't have to face it alone. But it isn't something God cannot handle. That's why prayer matters. Prayer doesn't always change the situation immediately. Sometimes prayer changes the person standing in the middle of the situation.
Prayer: Lord, when life feels bigger than I can handle, remind me that it is never bigger than You.
Friday: Romans 12:2 — Philippians 4:1–9
We talk a lot about what we do. But Scripture also talks about what is happening in our minds. Because what we spend our time thinking about eventually affects the way we live. If we spend all day listening to people tell us how terrible everything is, eventually we start believing everything is terrible. That's why Paul tells the Philippians to pay attention to what they are thinking about. And Romans says we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. In other words, sometimes God needs to change not just what we're doing, but how we're thinking.
Prayer: Lord, renew my mind.
Saturday: Galatians 6:9 — Philippians 4:1–9
Sometimes the hardest part of faith isn't knowing what we're supposed to do. It's keeping on doing it. We know what we are to do, but after a while, we get tired. We wonder if what we're doing is making any difference. That's why Paul's words in Philippians are important. He tells them to keep doing the things they've learned. And Galatians says, “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.” I think we all need to hear that sometimes. You may not see the results right away. But God sees it. So, if you're tired today, take a breath. Rest if you need to. But don't quit. Keep moving forward.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to give up.