“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13–14 (NKJV)
Jesus knew where He was going. “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). That phrase isn’t casual—it’s purposeful. He was resolved to fulfill His mission. He wasn’t distracted by comfort or convenience. He pressed forward in full obedience, motivated by love.
Paul adopts that same mindset. He admits he hasn’t “arrived,” but he refuses to be stuck in the past. Forgetting what’s behind, he presses on. Not aimlessly—but toward the goal, the upward call in Christ.
Pressing on doesn’t mean striving in your own strength. It means trusting the One who called you to keep leading you. It’s not about proving your worth—it’s about following His voice. God never calls you to something He hasn’t equipped you to pursue.
The enemy loves to use the past—your failures, regrets, or even your successes—to weigh you down. But grace empowers you to forget what needs to be forgotten and move forward with confidence. Not because you’re strong, but because God is faithful. He hasn’t changed His mind about you. The call still stands.
Think about it this way: in a car, the rearview mirror is much smaller than the windshield. Why? Because where you’re going matters more than where you’ve been. If you tried to drive by only looking in the rearview mirror, you’d end up in a wreck pretty quickly. It’s the same in your walk with God. You learn from the past, but you live facing forward.
There is more ahead. More freedom. More purpose. More of His presence.
So don’t live stuck in what was. Don’t replay old pain or shrink back from past disappointments. Let grace write your next chapter. Keep pressing. Keep reaching. The prize isn’t just a destination—it’s a Person. Jesus is your goal, your strength, and your reward.
Today, ask the Lord to help you release what’s behind and renew your focus on what He’s placed in front of you. The past may try to speak, but your future is speaking louder—because God is the Author. And He finishes what He starts.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Jesus knew where He was going. “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). That phrase isn’t casual—it’s purposeful. He was resolved to fulfill His mission. He wasn’t distracted by comfort or convenience. He pressed forward in full obedience, motivated by love.
Paul adopts that same mindset. He admits he hasn’t “arrived,” but he refuses to be stuck in the past. Forgetting what’s behind, he presses on. Not aimlessly—but toward the goal, the upward call in Christ.
Pressing on doesn’t mean striving in your own strength. It means trusting the One who called you to keep leading you. It’s not about proving your worth—it’s about following His voice. God never calls you to something He hasn’t equipped you to pursue.
The enemy loves to use the past—your failures, regrets, or even your successes—to weigh you down. But grace empowers you to forget what needs to be forgotten and move forward with confidence. Not because you’re strong, but because God is faithful. He hasn’t changed His mind about you. The call still stands.
Think about it this way: in a car, the rearview mirror is much smaller than the windshield. Why? Because where you’re going matters more than where you’ve been. If you tried to drive by only looking in the rearview mirror, you’d end up in a wreck pretty quickly. It’s the same in your walk with God. You learn from the past, but you live facing forward.
There is more ahead. More freedom. More purpose. More of His presence.
So don’t live stuck in what was. Don’t replay old pain or shrink back from past disappointments. Let grace write your next chapter. Keep pressing. Keep reaching. The prize isn’t just a destination—it’s a Person. Jesus is your goal, your strength, and your reward.
Today, ask the Lord to help you release what’s behind and renew your focus on what He’s placed in front of you. The past may try to speak, but your future is speaking louder—because God is the Author. And He finishes what He starts.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Pastor Kevin Casey
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Archive
2026
January
Day 1: Knowing Jesus is Eternal LifeDay 2: That I May Know HimDay 3: The Supremacy of ChristDay 4: Christ the FoundationDay 5: Forgiven CompletelyDay 6: Forgive as You’ve Been ForgivenDay 7: A New CreationDay 8: Righteous by FaithDay 9: Adopted and ChosenDay 10: Accepted in the BelovedDay 11: Seated with ChristDay 12: God’s WorkmanshipDay 13: Nothing Can Separate YouDay 14: Christ in You, the Hope of GloryDay 15: The Mind of ChristDay 16: The Image of God RestoredDay 17: Grace That TeachesDay 18: The Measure of FaithDay 19: Faith Works by LoveDay 20: The Faith of the Son of GodDay 21: The Crucified LifeDay 22: Renew Your MindDay 23: Take Every Thought CaptiveDay 24: Think on These ThingsDay 25: Be Spiritually Minded