Before you throw darts or spit hairballs at me ... hear me out. I know you've heard this preached time and time again but maybe just maybe there's a different twist here. Don't you love it when you read something you've read 100+ times but see something new in it! I do, and that's what happened for me with this passage in Philippians.
I assumed that Philippians 3 referred to Paul's past struggling - his past sins when he said he was forsaking all of it (we all want to forget bad things) and pressing on. What if he wasn't just referring to past strugglings but to all the great things that had happened in his past. We know he had lots of accomplishments. How many of us take that tiara out of the closet and try it on again - for the umpteenth time - you know, the tiara that you got some bumpity bump years ago!? We keep reliving the good times - thinking if I can just get back to those times. Do you do that? I do it. I have found myself reliving times when I knew that I knew I was right where God wanted me - like teaching in Ukraine - and seeing so many amazing things happening ... and wanting so badly to relive those times. But it's not just about what happened in the past. Put that tiara away! God's ready to do a new thing in every one of us, but He can't work a new thing in us - lead us to new victories - if we're always facing backward!
It's time to embrace Him as Lord in all of His greatness (Phil 3:7b). Instead of pursuing His hand - pursue Him. Yes, it may mean we suffer some. Yes, it may be that we have to swallow some pride, some selfishness, some "me" time - but it will be worth it. Why are we stuck on what He did in the past when He's waiting on us to pursue the future and all that He has waiting on us?
He wants us to pursue Him and His full abundance. He said He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). And the awesome news ... I don't find an expiration date anywhere in the Bible!
I know that I know that He will continue the maturation process in us and finish the great work in us if we just press on! (Phil 1:6)
Have a great week!!
Phil 3:12-16 TPT I admit that I haven't yet acquired the absolute fullness that I'm pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don't depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.
I assumed that Philippians 3 referred to Paul's past struggling - his past sins when he said he was forsaking all of it (we all want to forget bad things) and pressing on. What if he wasn't just referring to past strugglings but to all the great things that had happened in his past. We know he had lots of accomplishments. How many of us take that tiara out of the closet and try it on again - for the umpteenth time - you know, the tiara that you got some bumpity bump years ago!? We keep reliving the good times - thinking if I can just get back to those times. Do you do that? I do it. I have found myself reliving times when I knew that I knew I was right where God wanted me - like teaching in Ukraine - and seeing so many amazing things happening ... and wanting so badly to relive those times. But it's not just about what happened in the past. Put that tiara away! God's ready to do a new thing in every one of us, but He can't work a new thing in us - lead us to new victories - if we're always facing backward!
It's time to embrace Him as Lord in all of His greatness (Phil 3:7b). Instead of pursuing His hand - pursue Him. Yes, it may mean we suffer some. Yes, it may be that we have to swallow some pride, some selfishness, some "me" time - but it will be worth it. Why are we stuck on what He did in the past when He's waiting on us to pursue the future and all that He has waiting on us?
He wants us to pursue Him and His full abundance. He said He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). And the awesome news ... I don't find an expiration date anywhere in the Bible!
I know that I know that He will continue the maturation process in us and finish the great work in us if we just press on! (Phil 1:6)
Have a great week!!
Phil 3:12-16 TPT I admit that I haven't yet acquired the absolute fullness that I'm pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don't depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.
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