ARE YOU MISSING THE MARK ON GOD’S PLANS FOR YOU?

SCRIPTURE:
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing 
worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost 
all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be 
found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from 
the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness 
that comes from God on the basis of faith. 
(Philippians 3:8-9)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever reached a point in your life where you thought, 
“I would be willing to trade in all of my stuff for peace and happiness”?
We can spend so much time chasing our rainbows 
that we miss out on some really important facets of life.
The problem of course is that we are so busy 
with our achievements and amassing of possessions 
that we fail to see the precious things of life passing by.
However, it is never too late to make a change in our priorities.

We have to wonder if Paul didn’t reach a similar point in his life.
If he did, what did he do about it?
He re-focused and re-prioritized.
Paul was willing to give up all things in order to know the Lord better.
Why?
Because he knew the benefits of knowing and being close to the Lord.

He knew that he would discover 
a new type of righteousness that comes from God Himself.
He knew this was a righteousness that he could not attain on his own, 
and he also understood the benefits of changing his priorities. 
Based on what the scriptures tell us, Paul knew the “connector” to 
his new level of righteousness would be an ever increasing faith.

Paul felt that his relationship with the Lord was so important 
that he considered everything else as garbage.
Of course there are many necessities that require our attention, 
but when our relationship with the Lord is at the top of our priorities, 
we have the opportunity to experience the same sensations that Paul did. 

People go through many doors which do not lead to the Kingdom of God. 
Some try the door of good works. 
They say, “I can get to heaven if I only do enough good things, 
because God will honor all the good things I do.”
 
It’s great to do good things, 
but we can never do enough good things to satisfy God. 
God demands perfection, and we’re not perfect. 
If we’re going to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to be absolutely perfect. 
You may ask, “How then will I ever be perfect?” 

We need to be clothed in a righteousness that only comes from God.
That includes our imperfections being covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. 
There is one door to the Kingdom and it is Jesus;
we will never get to Heaven unless we go His way.

ACTION:
Are you ready for a righteousness that only comes from God?
If you are, then be prepared for some notable changes in your priorities.
Whatever God gave to Paul is available to believers today as well.
However, we also need to have an ever increasing faith (as Paul did) 
and a desire for the Lord to renew our minds.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I have spent much of my life chasing my will, but I want 
to change and start following Your Will. I want to have the righteousness 
that only You can provide. Help me to rearrange my priorities and increase 
my faith so that I can enjoy fellowshipping with You at a new level. Thank 
You, Jesus for going to the cross as propitiation for my imperfections. God, 
I thank You for Your assurance that when I believe in Your Son, and yield to 
Your control of my life, I will have a place reserved for me in Heaven. Let that 
promise be the guiding light in all that I do and say. Forgive me for the times 
when I fail to obey You”