Pressing on...

Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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."

As we move forward into the future, we are encouraged by these words of Paul in Philippians. We have many opportunities ahead of us, no matter what may be behind us. So, there are a few things that we can take away from these words. First, we should recognize the value of time:

Ephesians 5:15-17 "Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

We can analyze where we are, prioritize the things that should be important (not just what seems urgent), economize so that we are making the most use of our time, and utilize our opportunities instead of wasting them.

Then, we are encouraged not to be in bondage to our past. We are to "forget what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead." This means forgetting our failures, giving up grudges, restoring relationships, and turning our back on our transgressions.

When we allow the Lord to order our steps and set our priorities, we can be sure that our lives will be full of purpose and that He will accomplish His will in us.

Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."