I Love You, Jesus, More Than Anything: A Prayer Based on Philippians 3
by Katy Kauffman
Philippians Chapter 3 shows what the best pursuit of life is—gaining Christ. The apostle Paul didn’t lean on his credentials or accomplishments. He set those aside to pursue the One his heart loved most. We can too.
When we “gain” Christ, we gain a life of joy knowing our Savior and following Him as our great Shepherd. We learn from Him how to live for God better and to love people more. We gain a best Friend who will never leave us and a mission to help the world know Him and want to follow Him.
We gain an abundant life, filled with grace and strength. May we always walk in His abundance, love Him with our whole hearts, and share His love with others. And pray something like this …
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the opportunities You give and for helping us to make the most of them. Opportunities are wonderful, but You are the One who truly satisfies our hearts. Your love, Your closeness, Your leadership—these fill our lives with peace, strength, joy, and great good.
Help us to know You better every day and depend on Your help to be “righteous”—to think, feel, and act like You do. Thank You for Your death to pay for our sins, and thank You for being a living Savior for every heart that will turn to You in faith.
Help me to press on, so I can obtain God’s will for my life and use my time on earth well. Help me to be able to handle difficult people who oppose the gospel. I pray they would come to know You for who You are and respond in faith. And help me to live on earth as a citizen of heaven, worthy of my calling, honoring You in all I do.
You are worth living for, and because of You, death is not the end. Only a transition. Before the finish line, please help me to do all that’s in God’s heart for me to do and to arrive at the finish line victorious. I love You more than anything. If I have You, I have the world.
In Your name I pray, Jesus, Amen.
2 Comments
Howard L Abrams
What a marvelous prayer. Paul had checked all the boxes to advance in 1st century Jewish society. He was well educated and well connected. God got his attention on the Damascus road and he realized that what he had worked so hard to achieve was worthless from God’s perspective.
Help me, Lord, to set aside those things which have consumed my attention in order to pursue Your high calling.
Lighthouse Bible Studies
I’ll say Amen to that prayer. Thank you, Howard. What we can achieve on our own is nothing compared to what God can do. He had to get Paul’s attention–to turn his zeal in the right direction. I keep thinking about Philippians 4:13. Paul knew he could handle anything because of Christ, and what he wanted most was Christ Himself. Knowing Him, becoming like Him in his character, doing His will. Thanks for commenting on these posts. I enjoy reading your comments. ~Katy