Scripture: Philippians 3:1-12
Paul had a heart-cry that was obviously given to him from above. His heart-cry in verse 10 is, “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul had a cry that he might know God. That cry to know Him was answered when one paramount issue was applied to his life. He speaks about it in verse 8. In verse 8 he says, “But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count as rubbish, that I may gain Christ….” It’s obvious that for Paul, and for many of us, knowing in depth begins with great loss. When the baptism of loss comes to your life, you know you’re on a fast track to getting to know God in the kind of depth that Jesus prayed about in the High Priestly prayer of John 17.
=====PRAYER===
Jesus has been made unto me wisdom, and in Him are all the treasures of [divine] wisdom and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment. God has hidden away sound and godly wisdom and stored it up for me, for I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. When I walk in paths of uprightness, my steps shall not be hampered — my path will be clear and open; and when I run I shall not stumble. I take fast hold of instruction and do not let her go; I guard her, for she is my life. I let my eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and my gaze is straight before me. I consider well the path of my feet, and all my ways are established and ordered aright. Father, in the name of Jesus, I look carefully to how I walk! I live purposefully, worthily, and accurately — not as unwise and witless, but as a wise, sensible, intelligent person. I make the very most of my time — buying up every opportunity.