Philippians 2:13 January 17, 2015

¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  
Philippians 2:13 ESV

One of my spiritual pet peeves is how often Philippians 4:13 is misquoted or misinterpreted.  

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV)

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

The NIV makes the connection between verse 13 and the verses immediately preceding it much clearer.  In verses 11 and 12, Paul speaks about the states in which he has preached the gospel. 
¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (ESV)

Paul is referring to these types of situations when he writes "I can do all things".  Paul is not referring to the ability to fly like Superman, make the NBA all-star team, cure cancer with positive thoughts, or the myriad of other situations where people may take verse 13 at face value.  

The 13th verse from Philippians 2 takes care of the misinterpretation of 4:13.  In Philippians 2:13, Paul reminds his readers that it is God who works in us, both "to will and to work for his good pleasure."

So often my prayers are God help me to Your will.  Give me the strength to what You want me to do today.  But it goes deeper than just performing God's will for my life.  God is working in us to even provide us our thoughts and will.  

My prayer should be "God tell me what to want, then give the strength to move forward in obedience."  Our prayers should be one of asking God to give us our thoughts.  "Heavenly Father, tell me what to think.  Tell me what to feel.  Instruct me in ALL things, not just my actions."

Psalm 37:4-
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Most people interpret this verse to mean that if we delight in the Lord, he will give us what we desire.  To me this verse means that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give our hearts our desires.  If He instructs us what to desire, then he will fulfill that promise.

While this might seem like a play on words, I believe it is a fundamental shift in how Psalm 37:4 is to be applied.

In the first situation, we delight, God gives.  In the second interpretation, we delight, God creates the desire, then God fulfills the desire.  

One instance has God fulfilling our desires, the other has God fulfilling his desires.