Elegant Themes Blog

Ed Young Devotionals

    Straining and Striving to Win

    Posted on Jul 17, 2022 12:00:00 AM

    Read 

    Philippians 3:12-14, "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."  

     

    Think 

    Imagine the engines throttling as you prepare to take off in the race of your life. There is an intense determination as your eyes narrow, your knuckles grip the steering wheel, and the adrenaline kicks in! 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... GO! 

     

    Now, imagine competing in this race – and all you can do is look in the rearview mirror! What would you see? Cars trying to pass you, people jockeying for position or collateral damage from a wreck on turn three. It would only be moments before you experienced disaster! 

     

    Racing through life focused on the rearview mirror of our past decisions, thoughts, or old ways of life is also disastrous! There is a reason the windshield is exponentially bigger than the rearview mirror – it contains the path to our future!  

     

    What's ahead of you today? What opportunity is God giving you to reach for? Decide that you will set your focus on those things as you move toward what God has waiting for you.  

     

    Act 

    The race is on! Today, when you find yourself replaying the past, choose to refocus on the goals in front of you. Take a moment to thank God for seeing who you can be rather than looking at who you used to be!  

     

    Pray 

    God, the future You have for me in Heaven is what I'm longing for. As I race through this life, give me the focus, grit, and determination to strive towards the things that matter most to You. Through the windshield of faith, reveal the course before me! In Jesus' name, Amen. 

     

    Topics: giving, opportunity, toward