The verse for today
As Christians, we are called to live a life of purpose and to strive towards our ultimate goal of being with God in heaven. But sometimes, our past mistakes, regrets, and failures can hold us back from moving forward. We may feel stuck and unable to let go of what has already happened. However, this is not what God desires for us. Instead, He calls us to forget what is behind and to strain towards what is ahead.
The verse for today, Philippians 3:13-14, reminds us of this call to action. Paul, the writer of this letter to the Philippians, says "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Paul, who was once a devout Pharisee and an opponent of Christianity, acknowledges that he has not yet reached his full potential in his faith. Yet, he is focused on moving forward and pressing on towards the goal. He is forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. This is a powerful message for all of us.
We all have things in our past that we may regret or feel ashamed of. But we must remember that God's grace and mercy is limitless. He has already forgiven us for our sins and has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. So, it's time for us to forgive ourselves and to let go of what is behind.
When we focus on our past mistakes, it can be difficult to see the future that God has planned for us. But when we let go of what is behind and focus on what is ahead, we open ourselves up to new opportunities and new experiences. We become free to move forward in our faith and to pursue the things that God has in store for us.
So, how do we forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead? It starts with a decision. We must make the choice to let go of our past and to focus on the future. This requires a change in our mindset and our perspective. We must choose to see ourselves as God sees us – forgiven, redeemed, and worthy.
We can also practice focusing on the future by setting goals and making plans. Write down what you want to achieve and take steps towards those goals. Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you. Read the Bible and pray regularly. These practices will help you to stay focused on what is ahead and to keep pressing on towards the goal.
Let us follow Paul's example and strive towards what is ahead. Let us forget what is behind and press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Let us pray for the strength and courage to keep moving forward and to never give up.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your endless grace and mercy. Help us to let go of our past and focus on what you have in store for our future. Give us the strength to keep pressing on towards the goal and to never give up. In Jesus' name, Amen.
May you be filled with His strength, His peace, and His joy today and always.
In Christ,
Pastor Ras