'...that I may win Christ'

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

Is this truth?

Counting ALL things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord?

Counting ALL THINGS, yes, ALL THINGS but loss. Can we do this or are we too busy telling ourselves over and over that God understands, choosing to believe that God can bend His truths for us because He knows our limitations. Telling ourselves that God doesn't want us to suffer by depriving us of our *things*.  We give ourselves permission to accumulate all sorts of things, and to go to great lengths to keep those things.  We do this and we console ourselves. Yet how do we do this in truth when we read things like the above verse?  The Apostle said-  '… for whom I have suffered the loss of ALL THINGS, and do count them but DUNG, that I may WIN CHRIST.'

How can we believe that we aren't to suffer the loss of all things before denying any truth given to us by You?

We are so incredibly weak, at least I know I am.  I am weak! I scream out as Paul… That which I would do I do not, and that which I would not that I do!  I'm vile and weak! Thank GOD that Jesus Christ is MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, because I have NONE.

Please Father, all that I am called to do, give me the Holy Spirit whose power can do all that You will for me to do, I have no power of my own to do anything. My weaknesses, my failings are revealed to me daily, hourly, minutely and my sins are truly ever before me. Please, FORGIVE me, please help me to be Yours above all things, above all else.

Help me to be able to say that I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.  Help me to comprehend that to lose the things in my life is not Your punishment, but often a necessary allowance so we can grow in grace and knowledge of You. Truly You must be our all in all beyond everything else! Help us to live to this end- You, as everything to us, the most important part of our lives, more than anything else- with truthfully everything else being nothing but dung,  with You as EVERYTHING, truthfully, really everything!

Help Us LORD, help us! Keep us in YOU, keep us from all EVIL. 

All through our Savior's love, all in HIM, by Him and no other!

Amen.