Where ARE We Going?
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of January 5, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14
10I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
12I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we start a whole, New Year, I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit each and every day of 2009 that I may both hear Your voice and do Your will! In particular, I pray that I may, indeed know Jesus Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead in my daily life! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
10I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. Philippians 3:10a NLT
What does it mean to you to “know” Christ?
What would/does it look like in your life to “experience the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with resurrection power in my life, by abiding in the Holy Spirit each moment!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10b-11 challenge me a great deal. To say that “I want to suffer with Jesus” is so hard fro me. I so often prefer the easy way in my life. I pray that I may live boldly in You today, so that whether the day brings ease or pain, I may give You thanks, and may honor Jesus in what I think, say and do. This I pray in His holy name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10b-11 NLT
What does it mean to you to “suffer with” Jesus and to “share in His death”?
How often do you think about experience the resurrection from the dead?
Today’s Challenge: I will live boldly in Jesus so that whatever comes I may bring Him glory!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for making me perfect in Jesus, even though I am far from perfect in my daily actions! I pray that You will continue to forgive me for the sins I commit, and that day by day You will draw me closer to Yourself, in the power of the Holy Spirit that I may live more and more as Jesus every moment. This I pray in His name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
12I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. Philippians 3:12a NLT
What was the Apostle Paul saying here? (In your own words)
Does it comfort you to know that someone as great as Paul still hadn’t achieved perfection? Why or why not?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with total dependence on the Holy Spirit today that I may glorify Jesus in my life!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for sending Jesus to take hold of my life, and to bring me the salvation that only His precious blood shed on the cross could bring! I pray that You will fill me once again with the Holy Spirit that I may demonstrate the perfection of Jesus as I live this day, because it is in Him and Him alone that I will accomplish Your command to be perfect. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Philippians 3:12b NLT
What does it mean to you to “press on” in Jesus Christ?
What does that look like in everyday situations?
Today’s Challenge: I will PRESS ON to the perfection of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that today I will focus on ONE THING—You! I pray that regardless of what the week has been like so far, that I will forget about that, and put You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit FIRST in my life. Glorify Yourself in my life, now and always. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Philippians 3:13a NLT
Why do you think that Paul reiterated his lack of achieving perfection in Jesus to this point?
Without reading the whole Scripture would you have guessed what the one thing was? Why or why not?
Today’s Challenge: I will live this day with my life focused on Jesus and His heavenly reward!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may press on, that I may “run” the “race” of faith with diligence and with commitment, that I may ultimately receive the prize for which You are calling me heavenward! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13b-14 NLT
Are you able to “forget the past” and look forward as we enter a New Year? Why or why not?
What will it take for you to move forward in 2009?
Today’s Challenge: I will press on to the goal—Jesus Christ—today and every day in 2009!