Press On Toward the Goal

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Press On Toward the Goal

Andrea Lende • October 10, 2022

Philippians 3:13-14

Press on Toward the Goal

You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Press-On-Toward-the-Goal-e1p2sqc

Philippians 3:13-14

I 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, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Paul was such an encourager.

He had just been telling the people about his faults.

About how he was born a Hebrew and had observed the Law to the letter.

And even though he lived his life as perfectly as he could, he counted it as loss.

A loss for Christ as he learned that Christ was his only gain.

Learning about and becoming closer to the Lord was his only aim.

Being the optimist he was, he encouraged the congregation to press on as he was pressing on.

Keep moving forward.

He tells us to forget the past in order to move forward.

Forget what had happened or what they had done.

This takes courage.

It takes courage to move past our mistakes and past the difficulties we have faced.

His words “straining forward to what lies ahead” are indicative of how difficult it is to move forward instead of looking backwards.

Straining is hard.

When we strain a muscle or tendon we hurt, and it takes time to heal.

But we do heal.

Paul says this strain and pain is necessary to move forward.

He tells us to “press on toward the goal to win the prize which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”

The prize of eternal life.

This temporary life falls so short of the long-term goal of eternal life.

Eternity with our Lord.

The Lord of Lord’s and King of Kings.

Well, that is something to strive for.

Today I choose to let go of the past and lean into God’s promise of eternal life with Him.

May you find that forgetting what is behind you opens up what lies ahead of you.

Daily Prayer:

O Lord, thank You for making a way for us to live eternally with You. This is our ultimate prize. Help us let go of all we need to let go of so we can lean into Your promise. Help us strive to move forward and forget what lies behind as Paul encourages us to do. Help us lead a life which seeks You above all else. Keep our eyes on Your perfection, Your love, and Your grace. Keep our hearts aligned with Yours, Father. Thank You for choosing us to know You and worship You. Help us bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing our prayer.

Answer: You are Mine, and nothing can snatch you out of My hand.

Response: Keep us Yours for eternity, almighty God and Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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