Pressing On
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
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 to have taken hold of it yet. 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 (NIV)
Have you ever set an ambitious goal for yourself? One you knew from the start would be a significant undertaking, maybe even life-changing? Perhaps you were inspired by a book you read, a film you watched, or perhaps even the passionate pursuit of another as they chased after their dreams. Spurred on by this catalyst, you determined that no matter the cost, you would do the thing!
You create a plan and put it in motion, adjusting your lifestyle, attitude, and interactions with others to prioritize your aspiration. Every day, you rise early or stay up late, make the necessary sacrifices, and chase hard after your new objective. But after a time, the struggle begins to get real. The new wears off, and what started as an exciting pursuit now feels like drudgery. You are doing what you’ve done from the start, so what has changed? Your perspective.
Many of us experience this as we grow and mature in our walks with the Lord. We come to faith with great fervor. Zealous for the Lord and His Kingdom, we gave it all in those early days of salvation. Like a young couple during their engagement and the honeymoon period, our spiritual lives are brimming with anticipation and promise. We fully believe anything is possible! There is nothing but good ahead of us. And we can’t even fathom a moment where we would feel any different than we do during this season, where passions run high. We would never doubt our purpose or ability to press on towards our final destination, eternity with Him.
But the truth is, time and the realities of disappointment and hardship wear us down. Relationships are hard. Spiritual discipline can feel more like a chore than a blessing. And before we know it, we can become disillusioned. Perspective changes everything. We can easily become weary in well-doing when we lose sight of the finish line. The Word of God says:
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:8-9 (NIV).
When we become tired or the daily struggle to maintain our goals feels burdensome, our minds and bodies will provide us with every excuse to sit down, take the easy road, or even walk away. The tug of mediocrity invites us to “rest” and focus on the now – what is right in front of us and forsake what we once desired ahead. However, this is the exact moment when we must remind our minds and hearts, militantly if necessary, to look up and out towards our reward – Christ Jesus. Let us not be lulled to sleep but instead fix our eyes on Him. For He is our prize, and when we finish the race and enter into our eternity with Him, our discipline and sacrifice will have all been worth it!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you passionately pursuing the Lord during this season of life? Or have you lost sight of the goal set before you? Take some time today to recollect those early days of your salvation when intimacy with the Lord was so sweet. Just as it is essential to remind ourselves of our love for our spouse when life overshadows romance, so is it necessary to recall God’s profound love in your life. Remember moments where you have sensed His nearness and provision. With renewed perspective, I commit again today to press onward to the prize, which is Christ Jesus.
Further Reading:
Philippians 3
Hebrews 12
Photo Credit: Getty/Huseyin Bostanci
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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