Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself 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.

How many times have you heard Philippians 3:14? More than you can remember I can probably guarantee. It wasn't until recently that I read the 2 verses prior to 14 and realized how much more Paul was telling us about God in these verses. We aren't already perfect. We also are forgiven. As humans we constantly sin. Whether it is a blatent sin that the public can point out to us or a sin we know we commit in private, we still sin. And oftentimes we hold on to these sins as a barrier to us moving forward in our work for God. But as Paul points out to us, when we ask forgivenss we need to put behind us (forget) our past sins and keep straining ahead for the goals that God has in mind for us. God does not remind you of your past sins. He has forgotten them when you repent of them. Satan will constantly throw them in your face so that you feel unworthy of what is ahead on God's path for your life. I pray that you will take hold of these verses and remember that while you are not perfect, you are forgiven, and through God's graces you can have the strength to move beyond your past (and forget it!) and toward the goal of the prize which God promises to those who believe and follow His will.