Day 13

Read Philippians 3:8

“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.” 

In life, we pursue a lot of different things. You name it, people have pursued it. Cars, money, fame, popularity, sex, drugs, and alcohol make up a common list of pursuits, albeit worthless endeavors. However, as a follower of Jesus, you and I don’t have to go and find our ultimate pursuit because the Bible clearly defines what that quest should be. The ultimate pursuit of your life is to know Jesus Christ. Paul counted everything he had gained in this world as nothing when he thought about the quality or value of what it meant for him to know Christ in an intimate and personal way. This reminds us that the number one priority in our daily lives should be to spend time with Jesus. There is no substitute for time spent with Him.

How can you intentionally guard your daily time with Jesus in order to know Him more intimately?

Day 12

Read Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed^[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We learn from this passage that we should humble ourselves. Think about the prayer time in your own life. If your prayer time consists more about you telling God what you did instead of thanking God for the things He has done, or if you think about others and what they do wrong and what you do right, then it is a time that we need to humble ourselves. Let those moments be a red flag to you. 

This passage even tells us how to combat this subtle pride within us and humble ourselves, look at the end of verse 13: ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

When you notice a red flag moment, STOP what you are doing and pray this prayer. Remind yourself of God’s mercy. Only this way you will go on justified.

Take a moment now to pray. Focus most of this time on thanking Him for what He has done in your life, for the kind of person He has made you, and ask God for help to humble you.