The following verse came up as part of my daily devotional the other day:
Philippians 3: 10-14
I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press o to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sister, 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.
As Christians on the road to eternity with Jesus, we strive to be more and more like him. I found myself pausing for a moment on verse 13, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." Wait a minute Paul, that's two things! One-forgetting what is behind, two-straining toward what is ahead. Right?
I love it when scripture starts my mental wheels turning! Is it possible to strain toward a goal without forgetting about what is behind? If I allow myself to get caught up in regrets, focusing on the past, am I able to strive towards anything positive in the future? In order to press on toward the goal, as Paul says, I must leave the past exactly where it belongs -over and forgotten. And so, they really are one and the same - Paul's words make sense. The entire idea of forgetting has everything to do with forgiveness. Christ's sacrifice for me provided me with forgiveness; a clean slate so I can leave the past behind and in Paul's words, "press on toward the goal."
If you'd like to read more on forgiveness of ourselves and others, there is an entire chapter in my newest book: Mending Hearts and Anchored Souls. You can check it out here: https://www.amothersgriefjourney.com/mending-hearts-and-anchored-souls-1
