“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward
to those things which are before, I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Phil. 3:13,14
I firmly believe that every person born on this planet is here by divine design and they have a specific reason (or reasons) for being here. That includes you. There are no mistakes. You may not have grown up in the best surroundings, or with the best parents, or with the best that money can buy, but that says nothing about who you are or who you are meant to be. It says where you came from. It does not dictate where you are going. Unless, of course, you choose to carry the hurt, pain, disappointment and difficulty of the past into the present and future.
Forgetting those things which are behind. Staying stuck in a hurtful past does not serve us well. It breeds bitterness, resentment, anxiety, anger, hostility, fear, and a host of other unpleasant emotions that will only cripple us and weigh us down. We are wise to leave all the junk in our past behind us. If we live long enough we are going to experience the full spectrum of life. Who hasn’t had their heart broken? Who hasn’t experienced the death of someone much loved? Who hasn’t known difficult financial times? Who hasn’t known betrayal at the hands of someone trusted? Who hasn’t been disappointed, or worried, or afraid? In this life we will experience both the sunshine and rain. Learn from it. Teach others what you have gleaned from it. (We are here to help others also.) Grow because of it. Be wiser, more compassionate, more tolerant and patient because of what you have experienced, and then move forward!
Be the victor over your past and not the victim. It is our choice. I did not say it would be easy. We are encouraged to “ reach forward ” and to “ presstoward the mark for the prize of our high calling.” Reaching and pressing takes real effort on our part. In other words, no one can do it for you. Better yet, no one will do it for you. We each get the grand and glorious task of designing our own future, and that’s inspite of what the past may have been like. Many of us don’t take the time to think about what we want our future to look like, but if we want real change, we must first decide what it is that we really want. Do you know? Do you want more peace in your life? Then take a look at what is robbing you of it and decide what changes are needed to make to create more peace. Do you want your life to be surrounded by those who truly love, appreciate, and respect you? You may need to go through a weeding process to eliminate those who do not. You already know who they are. Do you need to increase your income to become more comfortable and to have the things you need? Determine the things that have kept you from that, and take the steps necessary to create more abundance in your life.
Spend some time daydreaming about the life you wish to have. Meditate on it. See yourself already enjoying the life you want. Start taking steps in that direction. The seeds of those thoughts that you plant today, and continue to think on and cultivate, will take root and grow tomorrow. We do not have to remain victims because of a painful or difficult past. We can choose to be victorious and rise above it. It is your life to live. Re-claim it and design the life you want. Reach forward and press toward the mark for the prize of your high calling. You are worth it.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward
to those things which are before, I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Phil. 3:13,14
I firmly believe that every person born on this planet is here by divine design and they have a specific reason (or reasons) for being here. That includes you. There are no mistakes. You may not have grown up in the best surroundings, or with the best parents, or with the best that money can buy, but that says nothing about who you are or who you are meant to be. It says where you came from. It does not dictate where you are going. Unless, of course, you choose to carry the hurt, pain, disappointment and difficulty of the past into the present and future.
Forgetting those things which are behind. Staying stuck in a hurtful past does not serve us well. It breeds bitterness, resentment, anxiety, anger, hostility, fear, and a host of other unpleasant emotions that will only cripple us and weigh us down. We are wise to leave all the junk in our past behind us. If we live long enough we are going to experience the full spectrum of life. Who hasn’t had their heart broken? Who hasn’t experienced the death of someone much loved? Who hasn’t known difficult financial times? Who hasn’t known betrayal at the hands of someone trusted? Who hasn’t been disappointed, or worried, or afraid? In this life we will experience both the sunshine and rain. Learn from it. Teach others what you have gleaned from it. (We are here to help others also.) Grow because of it. Be wiser, more compassionate, more tolerant and patient because of what you have experienced, and then move forward!
Be the victor over your past and not the victim. It is our choice. I did not say it would be easy. We are encouraged to “ reach forward ” and to “ presstoward the mark for the prize of our high calling.” Reaching and pressing takes real effort on our part. In other words, no one can do it for you. Better yet, no one will do it for you. We each get the grand and glorious task of designing our own future, and that’s inspite of what the past may have been like. Many of us don’t take the time to think about what we want our future to look like, but if we want real change, we must first decide what it is that we really want. Do you know? Do you want more peace in your life? Then take a look at what is robbing you of it and decide what changes are needed to make to create more peace. Do you want your life to be surrounded by those who truly love, appreciate, and respect you? You may need to go through a weeding process to eliminate those who do not. You already know who they are. Do you need to increase your income to become more comfortable and to have the things you need? Determine the things that have kept you from that, and take the steps necessary to create more abundance in your life.
Spend some time daydreaming about the life you wish to have. Meditate on it. See yourself already enjoying the life you want. Start taking steps in that direction. The seeds of those thoughts that you plant today, and continue to think on and cultivate, will take root and grow tomorrow. We do not have to remain victims because of a painful or difficult past. We can choose to be victorious and rise above it. It is your life to live. Re-claim it and design the life you want. Reach forward and press toward the mark for the prize of your high calling. You are worth it.