“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
There are times in life when looking back can slow us down. We remember old mistakes, missed chances, painful seasons, or even past victories. But God calls us to keep moving forward. The apostle Paul said that one thing he did was forget what was behind him and press toward what was ahead. His eyes were on the goal. He was not turning back.
Don’t Let the Past Hold You
Forgetting what is behind does not mean pretending the past never happened. It means we do not let the past control us. We do not live stuck in shame, fear, regret, or pride. We learn from yesterday, but we do not live there.
God has more ahead for us. If we keep looking back, it is hard to run forward. A runner cannot win a race while staring behind. In the same way, we must keep our hearts focused on Christ and the life He has called us to live.
Press Toward the Goal
Paul said he was pressing toward the heavenly goal. That means he was reaching forward with faith, hope, and purpose. He knew he had not arrived yet, but he kept going. He did not quit because the road was hard. He did not stop because he had made progress. He kept pressing.
The Christian life is not about being perfect today. It is about following Jesus day by day. We depend on His grace. We trust His strength. We keep growing, keep praying, keep loving, and keep obeying.
Stay Focused on Jesus
Our goal is not just success, comfort, or approval from people. Our goal is Christ. God has called us upward in Christ Jesus. He is our way, our hope, and our prize. Everything we need for eternal life comes through Him.
When our hearts are set on Jesus, we can face life with courage. We may get tired, but we do not have to turn back. We may stumble, but we can get up again. We may not understand everything, but we can trust the One who leads us.
Simple Ways to Keep Moving Forward
· Give your past to God and receive His forgiveness.
· Stop measuring your future by your old failures.
· Keep your eyes on Jesus, not on distractions.
· Take one faithful step at a time.
· Remember that heaven is your true home.
I’m Not Turning Back
Like Paul, we can say, “I do not have it all together, but I am on my way.” That is the heart of faith. We are reaching for Christ because Christ has already reached for us. We are running because God has called us forward. We are pressing on because the prize is worth it.
So forget what is behind. Press toward what is ahead. Stay focused on the heavenly goal. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Do not stop short. Do not turn back. By God’s grace, keep running forward.
Personal Reflection
This Scripture speaks to me because I know what it feels like to carry things from the past. I have had moments when I looked back too much and let old mistakes, disappointments, or fears weigh on my heart. But I am learning that God does not want me to stay stuck there. He is calling me to keep moving forward, one step at a time. I may not have everything figured out, but I know Jesus is reaching for me, helping me, and leading me. That is why I want to keep my eyes on Him and say with faith, “I’m not turning back.”
Minister A Francine Green, July 2026