Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
During my gym sessions, I see many regular faces. Many of them do it religiously trying to sculpt a lean and mean figure (though many of them still look the same after an entire year!?). It cannot be done in an overnight, haphazard manner. It requires perseverance, which requires effort and time.
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi and admonishes them to live a life that is worthy of the Gospel. This worthiness entails two things 1) standing firm and 2) unity of the believers in spirit and mind. Paul also makes it clear whether he is present or absent, he desires for them to persevere in these two things despite opposition in the faith.
The opponents of your faith may be very different from those faced by the Christians of that time. In the place of persecution, we face the opposition of reluctance to advance, spiritual inertia, complacency, fatigue, and seemingly softer opponents of the faith. They are nonetheless, opponents, and need to be dealt with.
When we persevere in our faith by standing firm in unity of spirit and mind, empowered by the Holy Spirit, not only will we be able to overcome hindrances and obstacles ahead, but it becomes a clear sign to the enemy of our souls of his destruction and our salvation in Christ.