I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, (Philippians 3:13 NLT)
Everybody has dreams, desires, aspirations, goals, or targets to achieve in life. Life is a journey and God has promised to give us expected end. However, He does not say anything about how the journey is going to be. All he said was “I will be with you”. Sometimes, in the natural, when things do not happen as we intend them to be ( for instance; a sudden death of a loved one, unemployment, rejection, disappointment, failure to achieve a goal, instability in our countries, etc.), some of us blame God or other people and choose to stop progressing. But I believe these, among other things, happen to slow us down from reaching our goals or the successful end God has promised us. In negative situations, we have to stay in faith and keep moving forward. We should keep on taking one step ahead of the other.
At other times too, our past achievements hinder us from moving forward. We tend to believe that that achievement is God’s best for our lives. But, the best of everything lies ahead of us.
Your number one enemy that does not want you to reach your goal is your past. It could be your past successes or failures. It hinders you from moving forward. Past failures create fear and prevent people from looking forward. However, when you forget about the past and press on to reach what lies ahead, God works in ways you cannot understand. In the scripture, Jacob had a goal of marrying Rachael so he served for seven years. Unfortunately, he was given Leah instead of Rachael after his service. Jacob forgot about all he had done in the past seven years and served another seven years for the lady he loved. He did not see Leah as a setback, instead he saw her as a setup for Rachael.
Some of us have stopped pressing forward because things did not happen they way they planned. Jacob, I believe, was disappointed but it did not stop him from serving for another seven years. He did not say “what if Laban disappoints me again?” “life is not fair”, neither did he blame God for what had happened. He focused on the prize. Do not let issues of life shift your focus from the prize. Keep moving forward.
Paul said “I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.” (Philippians 3:14 AMP)
Are you looking forward to what lies ahead?
Friend, your best days lie ahead of you. Nothing you have done in the past can be compared to the great things God has promised in your future so press on, and do not settle. If things did not work out the way you planned last week, last month, or last year, do not let them stop you from moving forward. Keep moving forward!
Uplifting Christ 