Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13,14

REACHING FORWARD

This brings us to the second side of the coin. Once we have let go of the past and begin neglecting it, we must reach forward to what’s ahead of us. In fact, I’m inclined to believe that both gestures should be done simultaneously. So in actuality, you are letting go of the past and reaching for your future at the same time. So it is in your reaching for your future that you let go of the past.

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How can this be done? The future that you desire must be so compelling to you that you are willing to relinquish the past in pursuit of it. The desire must have more meaning and significance to you than where you have been or else you will not reach for it. Now the word “reach” means “to stretch.” I remember when I took martial arts I had to stretch before class and during class. The benefits I gained were flexibility, speed and power. This means my kicks were fast and strong, plus I had the ability to kick high and from multiple angles. These were the benefits of me doing my stretches. Well, Paul here says he stretches in order to get those things that are before him. This means that Paul went beyond his comfort zone in order to get what he wanted. You see, you must either be committed to your future or your comfort zone. You must stretch beyond your point of comfort in order to have the future that you desire. I know we have been trained to blame others, but in order to have the future that you desire, you cannot blame anyone. Your solution is found in your letting go of the past and being committed to the stretch.

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It’s important to recognize that blaming others will not help you achieve your future goals. You need to take responsibility for your future and let go of the past. By doing so, you will be able to focus on the present and future, without letting negative emotions control you. This doesn’t mean that you should forget the lessons you learned from the past. Instead, you should let go of the negative emotions and focus on the positive things that the past has taught you.

In summary, to achieve your desired future, you must be willing to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone and take responsibility for your future. Let go of the past, but remember the lessons you learned from it. By committing to the stretch, you will be able to reach your desired future.

THE BLESSING OF STRETCHING

When you begin to stretch your legs, you may experience discomfort. This is because you are extending your legs beyond their normal range. Feeling uncomfortable is normal and expected. If you were to extend your legs to the point of ease and comfort, you would not be stretching. Stretching involves going beyond what is normal or familiar. It is the epitome of reaching for more. However, unless you understand the purpose of stretching and desire the result more than you desire comfort, you will sacrifice your future for present ease.

SUMMARY

So as you pursue your dreams, remember that you will feel some discomfort at first. That is part of the process. Go beyond your previous limits. Continue to challenge those boundaries. And before you know it, you will have grown by leaps and bounds when compared to where you first began.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13,14

2 SIDES OF ONE COIN

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul talks about one thing that he does. Although he mentions two things, we must understand them as two sides of one coin. On one side of the coin, Paul forgets the things that are behind him, and on the other side, he reaches forth unto those things that are before him. As we explore this one thing, we will discuss each side individually and then put them back together.

FORGETTING THE PAST

Let’s start with the first side of the coin, which is forgetting the past. What does Paul mean by this? Does he have amnesia? Of course not. The word “forgetting” in this verse means “to neglect.” When we neglect something, we don’t forget that it exists, but we treat it as if it doesn’t exist. We also treat it as if it’s not important. We invest our time, energy, and money into other things instead of giving attention to what we neglected.

Now forgetting the past doesn’t mean we erase it from our memory and pretend like it never happened. It’s about acknowledging the past and letting go of the emotional baggage that comes with it. We often hold onto grudges, regrets, and past mistakes, which can hinder our growth and progress. By neglecting the past, we are not allowing these negative emotions to control us, and we are freeing ourselves to focus on the present and future.

It’s vital to note that neglecting the past does not mean we forget the lessons we learned from it. The past can teach us valuable lessons that we can use to grow and improve ourselves. However, we should not dwell on the past or let it define us. Instead, we should let go of the negative emotions and focus on the positive things that the past has taught us.

In summary, Paul’s statement about forgetting the past means that we should disregard it and release ourselves from any emotional burden it may carry. By disregarding the past, we liberate ourselves to concentrate on the present and future, without allowing any negative emotions to hold us back.