“And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9)

The law kills.  The law is meant to kill.  You cannot uphold the law, so do not go down the false trail of thinking that what you do gains merit.  Die to self.  Die with Christ that you may resurrected with Him.  Come into the new life that is in Christ alone.  Know that in Christ alone is the only hope for any throughout this age and forever.  Live in the righteousness that God alone gives.

Lord, I get caught up in the meritorious mechanization of this age.  “Do this and all will be well.”  But I fail and I know I fail.  Help me turn to You and be saved as I need to be saved.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and forever be guided by You.  You give the righteousness that is true righteousness and without You there cannot be any hope.  With You is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You give those who follow You Your righteousness.  Help me to not veer away from the righteousness You give, but to walk always in the way of life that You have given me by grace.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth shrouded in Your righteousness that I may live into the eternal life You have won for me through the cross.  Guide me this day and every day, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8)

What are your priorities?  Is the only-begotten Son of God Lord of your life?  Many play the game, but few live understanding that this world is fleeting and temporary.  This is why Jesus told us that it does no good to gain the whole world if you are going to lose your soul.  The Lord is often telling us to look inwardly, asking us where our priorities are.  So, would you be willing to say all is rubbish that you may know Christ?

Lord, where I do not have this attitude, change it.  Where my priorities are not where they should be, change them.  Through all things guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may have the right priorities and live into the life You have given me through grace.  Guide me today and every day into the life You have given me to live in order that I may be guided by You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  There is no life apart from You.  Guide me today in the way of everlasting life so that I may live into the priority of having no other God before Holy Trinity.  Lord, You know what stands in the way.  Remove these things.  You know what I need in order to be encouraged.  Bring these things into my life.  You are Lord of all.  Let me understand that You are my Lord.  Amen.

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7).

The First Commandment tells us to fear, trust, and love the Lord above all things.  Are you doing this?  Or, at least, is this the desire of your heart?  What is it that is more important than obeying the Lord?  You know the answer: nothing.  Why then do you cling to those things which get in the way of your relationship with the Lord?  Why not live into the hope and promise which is yours in Jesus?

Lord, take my heart.  Do not just guide it, but take it and move it where it needs to go.  Let nothing get in the way of all that needs to happen in me.  In You alone is all hope and the only future worth living.  You have given me life.  Help me, Lord so that I may live into the life You have given me.  Lead me now and always in this upward call to follow You above all things.

Lord Jesus, You know where I am and those false things to which I cling.  Remove them from me so that, like Paul, I can say that there is nothing I would not give up to be with You.  Today, help me do those things which are right in the Father’s sight.  Lead me in the narrow way You have set before me so that I would count no cost but Your cost for my salvation.  In You alone do I have hope, Lord!  Amen.

“Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:4-6).

What good does it do to gain all the credentials which we gain in this world?  What do they accomplish?  Is God impressed?  Is that even what the Lord wants?  How we strive in vain when we do not understand the elemental things.  The Lord is calling us to come with Him so that we may become like Jesus.  Come and become, that is what we are to do.  No one is qualified, but all are welcome. And God helps us in our weakness.

What then shall we say to these things?  Are we to let them go because they are of no importance?  No, we are to live the life given us, but never with an attitude of the pride that has fueled the rebellion against the Lord.  We are whom we are but not whom we are to become.  Do what the Lord gives you to do and be content with the life He has given You.  He who created you knows all that is needed.

Lord Jesus, You did not come to this world and gather around you credentials.  You came humbly.  You who are the One through whom all things have their being did not demand attention.  You humbly served us all.  Help me to live by Your example so that I may be guided by You now and forever.  Help me to not trust in the accolades of men, but in Your salvation alone.  Amen.

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:2-3)

This world has all kinds of ideas that are promoted.  Do this, go there, feel this, and so on.  What we see here, is that the truth boils down to worshiping the Lord in spirit and truth.  He has created you for relationship and it is for this that we should live.  Do not trust the flesh.  Let me repeat, do not trust the flesh.  The flesh will disappoint and betray you.  The Lord will not.

Lord, help me to see that in You is all hope and a glorious future.  My body will fail and end up in the grave.  Guide me Lord by Your goodness so that I may now and always be led by You alone.  You alone know all that is needed.  Therefore, it must be You alone who leads me.  Open my ears to hear the lies that are spoken in this world and then to avoid them.  Open my eyes to see the truth and follow the truth only.

Lord Jesus, You came to save me and I need saving.  I need to be saved from all of the lies around me.  I need to be saved from the tempting of the flesh.  I need to be saved from myself.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would look to You alone as my help.  Guide me in the way of life in order that I would abide in You and You in me.  May I look to You this day and avoid the lies of this world!  Amen.

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1).

To write the same things again is not problem.  What are the same things?  That Jesus is Lord and that we do well to follow Him at all times.  It sounds so simple, but then we are distracted and each go our own way.  Do not be led by your heart, that is, your feelings, but by the One who came to give you His heart.  Do not be led by the world, but by the One who created the world.  In Him alone is life.

Lord, I hear these words again and again and at times it seems as though they never sink in.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life You give so that I may be guided by You alone.  Let me not be caught up in the tug-of-war that is constantly happening in this world, but led by You as I am lifted out of this world and fitted to stay with You forever in heaven.  Let me see this goal clearly so that I may follow it.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me Lord in order that I would hold fast to the truth You have shown through the demonstration of living the life we are to live in this world.  Keep my eyes upon You and guide me always in the truth so that I would seek to do what is pleasing in the sight of the Father, now and always.  Amen.

“Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me” (Philippians 2:29-30).

Sometimes we want the head person.  We want what we want.  A part of what the Lord does is to teach us humility.  If the Lord is taking care of it, then the Lord is taking care of it.  Why do you worry about who is doing whatever is done.  Whether it is the janitor or the pastor, are they both not a part of the team?  There is One Lord and one body, which is the church.  Give thanks for the One Lord.

Lord, You know the struggles that go on everywhere.  Lead me, O Lord, away from the way the world does things so that I may give and receive as You direct.  You know what needs to change.  You know that unless You keep us from our sinful choices, we would perish.  Complete me according to Your plan of salvation so that I may humbly walk with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior.  There is no salvation apart from You.  Guide me, Lord, that I may walk now and forever in the goodness of Your love and mercy.  Help me this day to see Your hand at work.  Help me to be Your hand where needed.  In and through all things, may I be lifted into Your salvation and walk according to the Father’s will.  Complete in me all that needs to be completed.

“Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you” (Philippians 2:28).

There are people who are praying for you.  There are those whom the Lord lifts up who pray for the various fellowships that they may prosper and not fall into the snares of the wicked one.  Cherish those who care for you.  Be one who cares for others.  There is only one church, just as there is only One Lord.  Give and receive as the Lord gives, so receive that You may walk in His way.

Lord, I often act as though what I think and want is all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may follow where You lead, go where You send me and receive whom You send to me.  This is Your church, not mine.  You are the head and we are the body.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk behind You following wherever You bring me.  Help me to be one for whom You need to be less concerned.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  Your Word has promised that it will all work together for good.  Set me on the path You would have me walk in order that I may be obedient and live according to Your direction.  In and through all things, guide me, O Lord, in order that I may be found faithful.  Where I need to be an encouragement, help me to encourage.  Where I need to be encouraged, help me to listen.  Amen.

“For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow” (Philippians 2:27).

It is good to care for those whom you know.  It is good to pray for those in need, but do not make demands in your prayers.  In all things, watch and see the hand of the Lord at work.  Through your prayer, the Lord will grant His grace and mercy according to His will.  Be content that the Lord has called you.  Abide in Him and He in you, for this is as He has told us it must be.  He is Lord and we are His creatures.

Lord, You know all that is needed.  You heal when You heal and bring home when You bring home those who are Yours.  Help me to learn to not be conditional in my faith, but recognize that You are Lord of all.  In and through all things, You have shone the light of Your glory that those who see may come in Your grace and mercy and abide with You unto eternal life.  Open the eyes of those around me to see.

Lord, You have opened my eyes so that I may see Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may humbly walk with You today.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace so that I would not seek to control but know that You are in control of all things.  Abide with me in those moments of trouble, enabling me to be led by You throughout the day to seek You alone, always, and for all things.  Amen.

“But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick” (Philippians 2:25-26).

What do you hear?  Is all that you hear true?  Keep your eyes upon Jesus and what He is doing.  Uplift the saints, but do not listen to the idle talk that goes around.  Yes, this is hard, for we react to news, but if Your heart is upon the Lord, you will know that all things are always in His hands.  The Lord will send whom He will send and we do well to learn to listen and receive, giving thanks to the Lord in all things.

Lord, what would You have me do?  I hear so many things, but half of what I hear is wrapped up in speculation.  Guide me Lord so that I keep my eyes upon You and not be caught up in idle speculation.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your purpose so that I would now and always humbly abide in the goodness of Your mercy.  In You, Lord, is there hope.  In You is all truth.

Lord, as You have called me, so also, You send me.  I am Your worker in the field.  Send me this day and help me to serve others as You have served me.  If I hear idle things, close my ears so that I would not become excited over things I know nothing about.  Through all things, lead me according to Your grace and mercy so that I may be approved in Your sight.  Work through me today, Lord.  Amen.