“Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it [that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me]. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on forward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
Apparently the past is stubborn. It takes personal resolution to keep the past in the past (behind). And, peoples who constantly dwell on the past sacrifice the present and compromise their future on that account. This was not the case with Apostle Paul: he said, “One thing I do.” Yes, it only takes one thing to keep the past from managing you! Apostle Paul resolved to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.
The year 2016 is now behind us and the whole of 2017 is ahead. We all have something(s) behind us (successes, failures, trials, disappointments, achievements, etc….), and, we all also have something(s) ahead of us (dreams, new year’s resolutions, new prophecies or old ones yet to be fulfilled, potentials, projects, callings, etc….). What about the present? Well, for Paul the present was the only time he had to do something, that is, forget the past and press on forward….
Note that the one thing he decided to do was informed by his appreciation of what was ahead. Paul knew that the past could not help move towards what was ahead because the past, by its very nature, either slows down progress (complacency) or holds it back (discouragement), but Paul’s calling was such that he had to press on forward…. So is yours child of God.
Please note that Paul did not take for granted what was ahead. He made it a goal to work toward. It gave purpose to his life, something to live for.
Sad to say, nowadays most Christians take prophecies (God’s word about the future) for granted. No wonder that many have been sitting on prophecies for years…. However, I understand that prophecy is supposed to inspire vision and vision helps trace a course of action….
It is important to note that unless you decide to forget what is behind in order to press forward, attaining to what is ahead will be compromised. May the year 2017 be a new page in your journey on earth towards the fullness of God’s will for you.
I pray that by God’s grace you will let what is ahead of you inspire you (God’s promises) instead of what is behind you (2016 experiences) in Jesus’ name.
