For the week of March 26-30, the word is DISTANCE.
START YOUR DAY WITH PRAISES AS YOU BLESS THIS DAY AND ALL YOU HAVE – STATE HOW YOU WANT YOUR DAY TO GO. PROCLAIM THE PROMISES AND FRAME YOUR DAY WITH YOUR WORDS! ANOINT THE DAY. YOU ARE ANOINTED AND APPOINTED FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS! BELIEVE IT!
Philippians 3 (AMP)
1FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.
2Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
3For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances–
4Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!
5Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,
6As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.
7But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.
8Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
9And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
15So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.
16Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.
17Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.
18For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One).
19They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party.
20But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,
21Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.
Are you going the distance? Are you allowing Holy Spirit to lead and guide you? Is your GPS (Godly Positioning System) locked on your preplanned and prepared destination? What measuring stick are you using to measure yourself? Are you flesh-driven or spirit-led? Who are you listening to? You were created for a plan and a purpose! You were designed with that plan and purpose in mind. You were equipped with talents and gifts to accomplish the plan and purpose. How are you using those talents and gifts? Are they bringing GLORY to the KINGDOM?
Paul understood what getting twisted in your purpose looked like. He took his talent and gifting and used them to persecute the church. He was a gifted man, but his gifting brought destruction when used perversely. He was so caught up in the flesh that he had to be temporarily blinded in the natural to begin seeing in the spirit. Once he changed course though, he took that same drive and determination and used it for the Kingdom. He changed his course and disciplined his flesh to maintain the course and go the distance.
What is your flesh preventing you from seeing in the spirit? Have you allowed your perspective to become twisted? Are you thinking more highly of yourself than you should? Go for the goal! Stretch yourself, push yourself, and press forward to your calling! Allow nothing to take you on a detour. Listen to the voice of Holy Spirit through your spirit and not to the pulling of your own fleshly desires.
Let your determined purpose be to know Him that you may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him so that you may be transformed through the knowledge of Him. Mature – hold to what is truth – align yourself to the Word! Choose to go the distance regardless of what it feels like to your flesh. Be purposeful in thought, word, and action. Let no perverse thing dwell in your thoughts or come out of your mouth. Remember it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. Choose to go for the goal – to run the race – to go the distance! Choose a predetermined course of action! Choose – CHOOSE WELL…
http://the3dalignment.squarespace.com/word-of-the-day/2012/3/27/march-27-2012.html
