“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith.” Philippians 3:8-9

“Dear Jesus, every day, just like everyone else, I ask myself how I am doing. I think about the things I have done and not done. Sometimes I feel prideful that I am not a failure like others. Sometimes I feel sad that I am not a success like others. Either way, I don't really have peace about myself when I am thinking this way. Then, I look at this verse and think about what you have done. You have freed me from myself. I do not need to be anything other than a believer in you and your gift of righteousness. I am free from trying to succeed in order to feel good about myself. Now, just help me to relax in your treasures and to honestly consider all of my personal accomplishments as "rubbish" compared to you. And help me live free of self-centeredness. Help me to throw myself into serving others out of love and not duty or ambition. I want to know the power of your love and righteousness guiding and strengthening my life. AMEN

"To live the Christian life is to live in and through Christ without thought of yourself."