Learning to be Abased

Daily Scripture Threshing for Monday, August 7, 2023

Today’s Text: Philippians 4:10-17

Key Verse: Philippians 4:12 (NKJV): “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

The Bible did not tell us that godliness and wealth are incompatible. What it does say is that a godly character, with content spirit is great gain. Of course, being content has been thought by many as a sign of a stressed out life. Being abased has been rejected, condemned and prayed against by our sensual generation. Whereas God’s word presents a totally different opinion. Being abased is not grappling with and bottling needs up. But a test of Christian contentment and grace.

The Bible teaches us to learn contentment and remaining effective and genuine in our faith when things are rather at the very base. No matter what they are, our tests of abasement are always open book because we have a host of biblical witnesses in this spiritual school—the prophets, apostles and even our Lord Himself.

We all need to learn this grace. God is not trying to make a show of how poor, weak and needy we are; but He wants us to abound and excel in the riches of His grace. He is not testing for how weak we are, but how strong we are in faith. Friends, it is natural to exhibit anxiety and frustration when we don’t feel sufficient. And, of course, it is easy to go with our natural impulses when things are hard—especially in trying times, difficult political regimes, high rate of inflation, unemployment, etc.

Quote for the Day: “‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Is not a claim of a jack of all trade; but the confession of one whose ability or sufficient is hinged on divine grace alone.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for a heart positioned in humility: not that cheapens my own worth or value within, but that seeks divine help to depend on Your grace during limiting moments — in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

For further inquiry and free spiritual help, visit or write:

The Darling Bishop,

2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144

Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA

+1 (407) 360-8280; (817) 822-8441

[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

Send | Share | Subscribe | Support