“In every possible situation I’ve learned the hidden secret of being full and hungry, of having plenty and going without, and it’s this: I have strength for everything in the one who gives me power.” Philippians 4:12-13

In my last post, I mentioned how Paul’s secret to learning contentment was relying on Jesus to strengthen him.

For many years, I clung to the promise of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Actually, I clung to my version of the promise.

There’s a scene in the original Avengers movie where Iron Man is battling Thor. During the battle, Thor strikes Iron Man with a bolt of lightning. The suit’s AI then informs Tony Stark that the suit was now charged to 400% capacity, allowing him to attack with far greater power than the suit’s design.

That’s how I viewed Philippians 4:13’s promise. “Lord, zap me so I can do something beyond my means, something I’m not designed or prepared to actually do.”

Lord, give me strength to forgive that person who has hurt me.

Lord, empower me to stop over-eating.

Lord, help me to be content with what I have.

Lord, restrain me from saying the wrong thing.

Lord, stop me from being impatient when I drive.

I think you get my drift. My prayer was that God would overload me with his power and grace so I could supernaturally operate at 400% capacity and instantaneously do things in the moment I naturally was not prepared to do.

Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes God wonderfully answers those prayers and infuses us with such grace that we’re stunned at what we’re able to accomplish in the moment. Those situations are amazing!

But that is not the moment-by-moment life in God’s kingdom that Jesus invites us to enter or that Paul is describing in Philippians 4:13. Just a sampling from Paul’s letters makes this clear:

“Train yourself to be godly.” 1Timothy 4:7

“I discipline my body and bring it under complete control.” 1Corinthians 9:27

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” Romans 12:2

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

Paul’s experience of kingdom life as Jesus’ apprentice was one of moment-by-moment interaction and cooperation with Jesus, learning from him how to actually be like him, from the inside-out. By doing so, we are strengthened by Christ to become like him and thus have the ability to “do all things in Christ”.

Then the things that used to be beyond our means and for which we prayed God to zap us in the moment so we could supernaturally do, have over time become within our means to naturally do. Through daily interaction and practice with Jesus, we have trained with him and have been strengthened by him to now be like him and to think and act like him in all circumstances.

Or to put it another way, Paul learned to embrace Jesus’ lifestyle to learn how to grow into Jesus’ life — to grow into Jesus’ knowledge, faith, character, power and action — within Paul’s own life. In this way, Paul could say:

“I am, however, alive — but it isn’t me any longer, it’s the Messiah who lives in me. And the life I do still live in the flesh, I live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

That’s the secret to the secret.