KEEP PRESSING ON!

Philippians 3:13-14

¹³ 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,¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Running a race requires a lot of energy and determination to reach the finishing line. Many athletes and marathon runners get fatigued but because of the reward that they will receive at the finishing line, they persevere to the end. Life is a race against time! You either give up or keep going! At no point in time can you say that you have made a full use of the time or talent given to you. There is always a room for improvement. This calls for forgetting your failures and doubts and pressing on to success. Failures are set backs that can prevent you from achieving your full potentials if you dwell on them. Lessons learned from failures can propel you to greater things ahead. Do not let failure hold you back! Forget what you could not do in the past and focus on the baby steps that you can take to achieve your aim. The Christian journey is just like the race against time in life. You have not yet reached perfection until the day that Christ will come to take us up to heaven. We are all work in progress. Each day, the Lord prunes us and makes us better and holier as we get closer to him in his word and prayer. We may fall some times but we must get up and back on track on the heavenward journey. We may become weak but because of the crown that we will receive at the end, we must press on. Persecutions must not derail us from our connection with Christ. Poverty should not make us give up the race and to fail into the habit of stealing. We have to press on in spite of these challenges. Straining forward requires the full use of all your abilities and mental faculties. Straining forward requires laying aside the sins that so easily beset us. Straining forward requires letting go of anger, unforgiveness, and pride. Giving up the things that weigh us down so that we can run the race with a light weight. What is hindering your progress on your heavenward journey? Identify them and ask God to help you to lay them down before him. Ask Him to carry the load for you and your burden would be lessened. You will then be able to progress in your Christian race.
Press on toward the mark of Glory! Be determined! Be persistent!