Philippians 3: 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8Yea 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,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
What are you willing to give up that you might know him? Do you count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? So often it has been my weakness, my fatigue, my chronic illness that forces me to sit down for a moment to talk with God or to study His word. Even then there lies within me a choice to be made, do I turn off the TV to spend time with Him? More and more life draws me to be near to Him, to cherish Him above everything else. Do we really understand the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings? Are we really willing to be conformable unto His death and to die to all those earthly desires that would draw us aside? He draws me so gently with His whispers of hope when the world looks hopeless. He draws me so gently to companionship with Him when the world seems to misunderstand me and I am lost in my loneliness. He draws me so gently with His joy to replace any sorrows. Passionately seeking and savoring Him in all His Glory is the key to joy and life that is abundantly lived because of Him no matter what the circumstances. Rejoice for He is near. Rejoice in even the sufferings that draw us near to Him. It is there that we are able to testify of Him to a world seeking solace. Can I tell them that He is the fountain of living water, if I were never thirsty?