Have you ever had a morning where you had things to do but you just didn’t want to? For some, this may be exercise, going to work, doing the laundry, studying the Bible. And the list could go on. Despite the absence of our “want to,” sometimes we “have to.” When our “desire to” and “have to” are at odds, then what do we do? We can give into our desires and only do what we want. The “want to” are temporary and don’t lead to progress and success. While the “want to” provide immediate joy and happiness; however, our “have to” lead us somewhere despite the momentary inconvenience. Therefore, focus on the prize.
The Story: Philippians 3:1-17
In Philippians 3:1-17, Paul speaks about safeguarding our faith and reaching for something greater. He reminds us of his history and accomplishments, but none of that means anything in light of Christ. Therefore, his righteousness isn’t in “stuff” rather it’s because of his faith in Christ. Although Paul speaks with much conviction, he affirms that he is short of perfection. He will, nevertheless, continue to seek after perfection in Christ. He won’t dwell on the past but focus on the prize, which lies ahead of him. Focus occurs because he remembers the progress he’s already made.
The Lesson
The same goes for us. Jesus has a prize awaiting us all. We receive the prize by doing a few things:
- Accept Jesus. Paul mentioned that everything he did was for the cause of Christ. He accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and endeavored to follow him fully. We must decide if we will fully accept and follow Jesus. If you haven’t accepted Jesus, there’s still time. Romans 10:9-10 provides the instructions. Remember He’s waiting on you.
- Lay aside the past. We can’t move into the things of God with our attention in the rearview mirror. Yes, I’m sure that there are a host of shoulda, woulda, coulda knocking at the door. However, they can’t change today. The past can offer lessons that we can take along the journey and that’s it. Gather the lesson and keep it moving.
- Set your gaze on Jesus. Yes, we’ve accepted Jesus by this step. However, we and Jesus are a lifelong relationship. Therefore, we seek Him for His plan for our lives. We keep Jesus at the forefront because everything we do should point to Him. With our gaze on Him, we can continue our forward progress.
- Focus on the prize. Distractions will try to take us off course. Seemingly good opportunities will tempt to divert our attention from the prize especially when the process appears long. Keep in mind that we’re making progress on our way to the prize. As a result, we need laser focus on our end goal. People may not understand and that’s okay. We don’t have time to explain as we simply must fulfill the plan set before us. At the appointed time, all will be revealed.
These steps guide us and enable us to focus on the prize. Where’s your focus?
