Paul prays for the Philippians - that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight. Phil:1:9 That love may increase - love to the Lord. Based on your knowledge and insight which will become deeper as you spend time with Him. It's a cycle. Love Him more to know Him more. Know Him more to love Him more. The key is realising the depth of His love and loving Him and therefore spending more time with Him and thereby loving Him. But not by your effort or interest or discipline. Paul prays that this would happen to the Philippians. The element of divine grace. Lord have mercy on me and open my eyes and enable me to see you as you would want me to see you. As you desire to reveal yourself to me. Help me to understand the depth of your love that my love will only abound by the increasing knowledge of you. Image credit: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2024/12/14/paul-and-prayer/?amp=1
Phil:1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Predestining you was His initiative. Calling you and choosing you, His act. And why was it that He called you. Not to gain accolades for Him through you. Not to gain many souls through you. Not that He saw a fighter in you; a good soldier who would stand for His cause. He called you because He loves you. And why did He call? For what purpose? It is to transform you into His Son's likeness. He has started this. And He will complete it. If this is the primary purpose for which you have been called; then He will not deter from completing it. All the other purposes might fade. But this won't. Be confident of this. Image credit: https://dianegottsman.com/2022/01/17/handling-the-first-day-at-a-new-job-jitters/