"Brothers, I do not consider 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."

Philipians 3: 13-14



It seems I have used this verse so many times recently, including in my own life. I thought it might be an appropriate addition to the blog. It's so encouraging to know that this came from the mouth of a man who most would consider having a crippling sinful past---Paul, the former Christian killer.



I was hiking Crowder's Mountain this week and was talking with someone close to me. She shared with me the intense hate she has for her mother due to various things that have occurred in her life. The hate and resentment she holds is so intense that forgiveness seemed an impossibility. During our conversation this verse came to me. After sharing the verse it seemed like a layer of anger and hurt peeled away. She even said that she was more ready to forgive and heal than she had been before. Wow! What an incredible, gracious God we have! So often we let our past dictate who we are, instead of letting Christ mold us into who we are to become. How can we look ahead toward Heaven when we are always looking at our past? Whether it is sin that we have committed ourselves or sin that has been done to us, we must remember that God never intends for us to wallow in it. He wants us to deal with it, learn from it, and move on stronger in Him. Although I've not mastered this, it has certainly been an encouragement for me in times when I get stuck reliving history. I pray it does the same for you!