Focus On What Is Before You

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. – Philippians 3:12-14

Yesterday, we talked about how there are three steps Paul gives us if we want to have joy and run the race of life with success. We already discussed the first step: forgetting what is behind you. So today, I want us to look at the second step.

The second step Paul encourages us to take is to focus on what is before us. Paul has put his past where it belongs in the rearview mirror. Now he can put the present where it belongs – on his windshield. Paul gives us the secret to what we must do every day if we are going to get the most out of that day and that day is going to get the most out of us. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do...” (Philippians 3:13).

God has called every one of us to accomplish one goal. If you accomplish this one goal in your life on a daily basis you will maximize the influence you have in your business, in your home, in your neighborhood, in your family, and in every other area of your life. This is the one thing we must seek daily - to know God and glorify him.  

No matter what other goals you achieve in life it doesn’t matter how many ladders you climb and how high you climb them. If you do not know God and glorify him with everything you are and everything you have, your life is a waste, and you chased the wrong goal. Don’t let that be the case for you. Instead, strive to know God deeply and personally. If that is the only thing you accomplish in this life, you’ll be more successful than you’ll ever realize. Never forget that knowing your Heavenly Father is the ultimate goal, and it’s a major step in running the race of this life with purpose.