By Steve Backlund

I remember when I was leading our church’s youth group in the last part of the 1990s. One of our favorite songs to sing was Delirious’ “History Maker”. We would sing as loud as we could, “I'm gonna be a history maker in this land. I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind. I'm gonna stand, I'm gonna run into Your arms.” The song helped me believe I could be a history maker. In fact, the more we sang it, the more I believed I actually was a history maker.

Daniel was a history maker because he had good habits. Even when he was threatened with being thrown into the lions’ den, he did not stop his habits of prayer and thanksgiving which “was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10). Great people develop and maintain great habits and customs. 

Philippians chapter four is full of promises and divine strategies for those who want to shape history. Amongst several great truths presented in the chapter, it reveals four habits of victorious and influential people: 

1. They rejoice in the Lord
2. They combat worry with prayer and thanksgiving
3. They are intentional in their thinking
4. They believe God for provision in multiple areas of life

Firstly, they rejoice in the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

• Rejoice - They intentionally stir up their joy. They do as the psalmist did in Psalms 103 and tell their soul what to do. “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
• In the Lord - It is not positive thinking, but magnifying the Lord (His goodness, His promises, His testimonies, etc.)
• Always - The rejoicer finds ways for it to become a lifestyle.
• An idea to increase rejoicing in the Lord - Set a reminder on your phone  several times a day to rejoice in the Lord.
  
  

Secondly, they combat worry with prayer and thanksgiving. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

• Do not be anxious about anything - God never commands us to do something He does not empower us or give us the grace to do
• With thanksgiving - After pouring our hearts out to the Lord (prayer and supplication), our prayer life moves into victory when we thank God that He is working regarding the past things we have prayed about. 
• The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding - There is a peace we can access which is supernatural and will seem illogical to the natural mind. 
• An idea to increase this thanksgiving - Every time you are tempted to worry about something, immediately say out loud or in your self-talk, “Thank you, Lord, that you have done and are doing a great work concerning this.”

Thirdly, they are intentional in their thinking. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

• Finally, brothers - Paul concludes his speaking about rejoicing and not worrying by giving a list of things to fill our minds with. If we only play defense and try to prevent worry and other fear-based emotions, we will struggle to be victorious. 
• If there is anything worthy of praise - This is the last item listed we are to intentionally think about. It sets a high bar for what we are to focus on. 
• Think about these things - One of the greatest revelations we can receive is this: we can choose what to prioritize in our thinking.“Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:1).
• An idea to increase intentionality in our thinking - Don’t trust any belief, conclusion, or thought that does not have hope attached to it. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Fourthly, they believe God for provision in multiple areas of life. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

• And my God - We have a personal relationship with God that makes a difference in the lives of others. 
• Shall supply all your needs - Our need is determined by our vision. The bigger our vision to make a difference, the greater our need. Our need is not just financial, but He will provide for  our relational, emotional, family, national, church, and all other needs. 
• According to His riches in glory - Our provision is not determined by our nation’s economy, by who we know, or by how good we have performed. It is determined by God’s riches in glory (and that is an infinite supply source).
• An idea to increase the manifestation of provision - Make a list of the “non-obvious” needs in your life and declare Philippians 4:19 over them daily for a month. 

You are going to be a history maker! Actually, you already are a history maker, and I believe it will manifest even more in this next season.