Press On — No Turning Back

Read

Philippians 3:13–14 “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.”

Think

There’s a strange comfort in looking back—even when the past wasn’t perfect. At least it’s familiar. We know how the story went. We know the outcomes, the patterns, the people. But forward? Forward is unknown. It asks for faith. It requires movement.

Paul knew this tension well. He had a past full of religious success and deep regret. He once persecuted the very church he now lived to build. And yet here he is, declaring with grit and clarity: “This one thing I do… I press on.” Notice what Paul doesn’t say: “I ignore my past.” Or “I pretend none of it happened.” No—Paul had faced his history. But he refused to let it define his future. “Forgetting what is behind…” doesn’t mean amnesia. It means not allowing the past to dictate your present direction.

And that’s the trap, isn’t it? Regret loves to replay old footage. Shame zooms in on your worst moments. Nostalgia whispers that the best days are behind you. Together, they build a case for staying stuck. But God’s voice calls forward. Because the truth is, God’s work is always ahead. Always unfolding. Always inviting us to more. Not more pressure or performance—but more of him. More grace. More freedom. More purpose.

Pressing on doesn’t mean sprinting. Sometimes it’s a slow, shaky step. Other days it feels like crawling. What matters isn’t your pace—it’s your direction. And let’s be honest: pressing on takes courage. Especially when your past still echoes. Especially when you feel like you’ve failed too many times or missed your moment. But faith isn’t about perfection—it’s about pursuit. It’s believing that if Jesus called you forward, then forward is the only place worth going.

Paul uses a runner’s metaphor here—a race with a goal in sight. He doesn’t just want to move forward; he wants to reach something. And not just anything—the “prize for which God has called me heavenward.” That’s not just heaven someday. That’s life with Jesus now. Purpose now. Joy now. But to run that race well, you’ve got to drop the baggage. You can’t run while looking backward. You’ll trip. You’ll drift. You’ll get distracted. At some point, you have to make peace with what was and place your hope in what’s next.

And don’t miss how Paul frames this whole thing: “one thing I do.” Not ten things. Not trying to fix the past while controlling the future and staying comfortable in the present. Just one clear choice—I press on. That kind of focus is freeing. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to take the next faithful step.

Apply

Take a different route today—literally. Whether it’s your drive home, your walk, or even a small detour on your lunch break, let it be a physical reminder that forward is the direction God is calling you. As you go, pray under your breath: “I’m not going back. I’m pressing on.”

Pray

Jesus, thank you that my past does not get the final word—you do. Help me stop clinging to what was and start walking toward what is. Teach me how to press on, not in my own strength, but in your grace. I believe you’re not done with me yet. In Jesus’ name. Amen.