Gaze Forward and Only Glance Back

Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own 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 [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14, AMP)

We are doing a study on running the race, as we study Philippians 3:12-14. If you would like to read the first devotional in this series, you can click here and you can find the second one by clicking here.

The first essential needed for running the race is a dissatisfaction with your current walk. A desire to want more and strive for more in Christ. The second essential for running the race is Devotion. We must simplify our devotion and dedicate our lives to a Kingdom purpose!

This week we will talk about the third essential needed for running the race.

3rd Essential ~ DIRECTION

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…”

Have you ever noticed what direction runners are facing when they begin their race? I know it’s a silly question, but that’s how we all begin our race. We begin it looking ahead, striving after the things of God, and excited at what He will do. Somewhere in there, we get distracted as we start looking back at the woulda, coulda, and shouldas. The infamous moments that keep us from moving forward. The more we look back the less we actually run toward the goal line. It’s virtually impossible to run forward when you are looking back.

That brings me to my Victorious Mindset Secret of the week. We must choose to Gaze forward and only glance back! There’s a reason that the rearview mirror is so small in our car. We are to use it to glance back, to reflect, and to be aware of our surroundings. But our gaze needs to be through the windshield. How many accidents would be caused if people spent more time looking through their rearview mirror than through the windshield?

Accidents happen in real life as we run and spend our time looking back. We bump into all sorts of things and cause so much trouble for ourselves. The Bible calls us to “forget what is behind and strive for what is ahead…” We run with purpose to the prize that God has called us forward to. Is there something from your past that is still tripping you up? I can honestly say that just a couple weeks ago God gave me freedom from something that has been weighing on my mind from the past. It feels so good to finally be free of it!

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12)

This is how big God’s love is! He is not holding your past against you, so why do you still hold it against yourself. We serve a loving God who brings good through everything. Can you hand over that one thing that you’re still looking back at? The sooner you hand it over the better, as it’s then that you will be truly running your race!

Lord, please help me to remember that I need to gaze forward and only glance back. You don’t hold my past or my sin against me, so why should I. Why should I let the enemy wreak havoc in my life from past decisions when You have called me to move forward? Lord, please give me the strength to strive after the things of You and gaze into the future of what You alone have for me!

Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,