Press On!

Philippians 3: 13-14

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

My dear Reader, you are precious to me. I want God's best for you. So don't let what is clinging to you from your past hold you back from that high goal of what your Heavenly Father has prepared to give you as a reward.

Do not focus on what is in the past--leave it behind you, not looking back; don't let it distract you from stretching and reaching, pressing on hard toward what lies ahead of you--that upward call of God in Jesus Christ. 

O my Father, I pray for myself and all those You have called into Your own Family: continue to draw us ever closer to Yourself, continue to strengthen us to press hard each step toward that high calling each day. 

Make our feet like hinds' feet for those high places in Christ Jesus; hold fast our hand, never letting go, never letting us slip away; strengthen our steps to run hard on Your heels, seeking Your Face.

So that others whose lives touch ours, seeing Christ in us, would be drawn to You, and that our words would be Your sweet, wise, healing words, carrying Your sweet fragrance! 

And accomplishing all Your Purposes that You have purposed for each of us according to our places in Your great Plan of the Ages.

Father, continue to mold us and shape us into the very image and likeness, the character, of Your Son, retaining all of our varied and sundry personalities.

You are so Wonderful, my dear Daddy! Thank You for Your varied and sundry sides to Your Person and Personality! Even though there is never any shadow of turning in Your Light! 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!