Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Insight and Highlight
Press towards the goal. Never allow your past failures to define you.
Scripture Commentaries
God wants us to be perfect, Matt 5:8.
Therefore, we must be perfect. However, in trying to attain perfection on our own, we make mistakes, wrong choices, and even people's antagonism towards us, etc.
As a result of these, we face setbacks, losses.
Paul says he is not yet in a position, perfect enough as some would think they are perfect, Phlp 3:12.
This is why he said in 1 Cor 9:27 that he was still a work-in-progress who disciplined his body, put it in subjection.
We must always press forward, work on ourselves, forget past failures, present obstacles, and ensure those things that have prevented our successes in the past do not define us.
Looking at our world today and learning practices, we see that some of the most successful people in the world today are the people who have failed most.
One of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game ended up as one of the most celebrated and decorated in the game. He was cut off from his High school basketball team, in his career he had lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots.
He was quoted to have finally said "l have failed over and over again in my life, that is why I succeed'.
Life is warfare, just as it is in the spiritual so it is in the secular.
These people succeeded because they understood that, you cannot allow your failures to define you, but allow your failures to teach you.
Paul lifted himself from the disappointments he suffered saying in Philippians 4:10 (ESV) I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
Let not your past disappointment or failures define you.
You can be renewed and revived again. Press on towards the goal!
Remorse corner
Will you try again?
People succeed in life because they understand that, you cannot allow your failures to define you, but allow your failures to teach you.
Call to Word action
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The Christian clarion duty
Let your failures show you what you must do differently next time.
After three years of gruesome famine and presumably after trying all he could do to end the famine, David finally did something different. He sought God and God revealed the cause of the famine, 2 Sam 21:1.
Prayer
Philippians 3:15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Lord, help me "to press on toward the goal..." Let not my past failures define me but show me, make it clear to me what l must do to finish well, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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