Press On

In 2015 I decided to lose some weight.  At that time I was at the my largest of 237 pounds.  I can remember thinking to myself, it is impossible to lose weight.  I am going to miss out on Ryan's, Chick Fil-a and of course my all time favorite Chinese food. 

I decided though that I had to make a change in my life.  I could keep looking back at all those fun foods or I could look at being at a healthy weight where I could breath and walk better.  

Sometimes in living for God, our biggest hurdle is getting our minds off our past and pressing on to what God has for us in the future.  Look what Paul said in Philippians 3.

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Paul never said becoming perfect was easy.  The word press makes me think of someone who has to push through the obstacles that come.  It is as if Paul was saying, no matter what comes my way I am going to push through it and press forward.

Too often we start out to follow Jesus and before we know it we are brought to a screeching halt, kind of like the children of Israel coming out of Egypt.  The momentum was there, but they got stopped by a Red Sea.  What did God tell Moses?  Stretch for your rod.  

When we press on those obstacles split and we walk through them.  

There is a prize waiting for us on the other side of the obstacles of life.  It is an upward calling of God.  It is out of this world.  Perfection is not easy down here on this earth, but it is the only option in Heaven.

Thank you Lord for your strength.  Thank you Lord for bringing me through the things of my past. Help me to get my eyes off the past and my mind and eyes on the prize of Heaven.