Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
The Apostle Paul had a singular focus on whom he was serving and what his mission was. He didn’t want anything to get in the way of his pursuit toward his goal. Paul spoke boldly about the importance of “letting go” of what lay behind, i.e., unnecessary baggage for the journey ahead. Unnecessary baggage is anything that slows us down in pursuit of a higher purpose. This has an application for every area of life. God doesn’t force Himself on us, and that includes forcing us to make decisions we already know we must make. We must “willingly” surrender those things He prompts us to, when He prompts us to, lest the delay open doors to pain God is trying to help us avoid down the road.
Along the road toward spiritual maturity, there are things we must give up in order to go up. Growth stops when we are no longer willing to make the tough choices in our lives. Some routines, habits, relationships, or other things from our past we must willingly relinquish. Not surrendering what we know we should can prevent us from moving forward. Is there something in your present God is prompting you to release? Letting go of what lies behind, like the Apostle Paul did, will set you up for something significant God wants to release into your future.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- What was the last thing God asked you to surrender?
- Is there baggage in your life that has detoured your future?
- Whom do you know who has something they need to surrender or submit to in their life?
When surrendering something God is prompting you to, you are not only walking away from something but running toward Someone.
