Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:12-16 ESV
I elevate my goals by:
Being honest about where I am
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect. Philippians 3:12 ESV
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3 NLT
My location determines my direction
Reminding myself of whose I am
But I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Philippians 3:12 ESV
We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 NLT
Learning from my past but not being imprisoned by it
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 ESV
How to overcome my past:
- Accept it
- Learn from it – those who don’t repeat it
- Move on from it
People who will not release you from your past should not be a part of your future.
Embracing the hard work ahead
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 ESV
He who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28 NIV
Focusing on where I am called
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 ESV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NLT
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Whether it be through dedicated prayer time, some key Bible verses, or your favorite worship songs, remind yourself of who God is and of his great sovereignty. Think of what plans God may have been working out these last few months. Take some time to list them out. Now think of the goals you had going into 2020? Are they lining up with the trajectory of this year? A good guess would be that this is highly unlikely. God is with you at this time, and he sees you completely. He can search all of your thoughts and knows how he wants to elevate your life. But he isn’t interested in carrying what he’s asked you to leave behind. Pause and ask God, “What do you need me to release today?” Be honest about what comes to mind— relationships, memories, maybe some of your own self-destructive habits?
We don’t have to be perfect, but we do have to be honest and open if we want God to change our hearts to line up with the goals he’s placed deep within them (Philippians 3:14). Spend some time with that list you made. Ask God where you might need to put in extra work to release those things. Ask a trusted friend or family member for help in the areas you might struggle in most. Dedicate some prayer time this week to asking God how to focus on his calling for your life and thank him for always lifting you with his mighty strength.
Discussion Questions
- What have you been learning about God or yourself lately in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
- Read Philippians 3:12-16. What are some of your life goals, and in what ways can Jesus help elevate them?
- Read Romans 12:3. Where do you think you currently are in pursuit of your goals? Do the people in your group agree with your personal assessment?
- Read Ephesians 4:28. No goal worth chasing is ever easy. What are some hard things you need to embrace to get from where you are to where God wants you to be?
- Read Philippians 3:13. Of the three stages of overcoming your past (accept it, learn from it and move on from it), which one is the biggest obstacle in keeping you from “straining for what lies ahead,” and what is keeping you stuck there?
- Read Colossians 3:23-24. What specific things are holding you back from working toward your life goals, and what practical things can we do to help you get unstuck this week?
